Top Definitions
Synonyms
Quiz
Related Content
Examples
Idioms And Phrases

offense

[ uh-fens or, for 7-9, aw-fens, of-ens ]

/ əˈfɛns or, for 7-9, ˈɔ fɛns, ˈɒf ɛns /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for offense on Thesaurus.com

noun

a violation or breaking of a social or moral rule; transgression; sin.

a transgression of the law; misdemeanor.

a cause of transgression or wrong.

something that offends or displeases.

the act of offending or displeasing.

the feeling of resentful displeasure caused: to give offense.

the act of attacking; attack or assault: weapons of offense.

a person, army, etc., that is attacking.

Sports.

the players or team unit responsible for attacking or scoring in a game.
the players possessing or controlling the ball, puck, etc., or the aspects or period of a game when this obtains.
a pattern or style of scoring attack: single-wing offense; fast-break offense.
offensive effectiveness; ability to score: a total breakdown in offense.

Archaic. injury, harm, or hurt.

OTHER WORDS FOR offense

1, 2 trespass, felony, fault.

6 umbrage, resentment, wrath, indignation.

8 besiegers, attackers, enemy, foe.

See synonyms for offense on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR offense

See antonyms for offense on Thesaurus.com

VIDEO FOR OFFENSE

These Words Are Guaranteed To Ruin An Apology

For all those apology-givers out there, listen up! These words will cancel out any apology you're trying to give.

MORE VIDEOS FROM DICTIONARY.COM

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Also British, of·fence .

Origin of offense

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English offence, offense; in part from Middle French offens, from Latin offēnsus “collision, knock,” equivalent to offend(ere) (see offend) + -tus suffix of verb action; in part from Middle French offense, ultimately from Latin offēnsa, feminine past participle of offendere

synonym study for offense

1, 2. See crime.

OTHER WORDS FROM offense

self-of·fense, noun

Words nearby offense

Offenbach, offence, offend, offended, offender, offense, offenseless, offensive, offer, offer document, offering

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use offense in a sentence

A statewide reporting project that included VOSD and dozens of other newsrooms last year found that California was only one of five states that doesn’t automatically decertify police officers for certain offenses and misconduct.
Sacramento Report: Jones, COVID-19 and the Irony of Remote Voting|Sara Libby and Jesse Marx|August 28, 2020|Voice of San Diego
This season’s Mavericks had the most efficient offense in NBA history, and five of the 16 playoff teams are scoring more efficiently in the postseason than the Mavs did during the year.
Monster Games In The NBA Playoffs Aren’t Automatically Translating To Wins|Jared Dubin|August 26, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The police report lists the offense allegedly committed by the two suspects as a misdemeanor “Threats to Do Bodily Harm.”
D.C. police investigating threats against Casa Ruby|Lou Chibbaro Jr.|August 26, 2020|Washington Blade
Since June, more than 75 percent of prosecutions involved drug importation offenses.
Downtown Federal Jail Facility Has Nearly 50 Coronavirus Cases|Maya Srikrishnan|August 21, 2020|Voice of San Diego

“I think it is a pretty reckless thing for him to do because Kristin will be back and other board members will see it and take offense,” Roe said.
One Race Could Make or Break Plans to Overhaul the Region’s Transportation System|Jesse Marx|August 13, 2020|Voice of San Diego
But the fun starts when conservatives stop playing defense and go on offense.
Steve Scalise and the Right’s Ridiculous Racial Blame Game|Michael Tomasky|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
To many of us, that smacks of censorship, the highest offense to our pride in self-publicity.
On Torture, Chuck Johnson & Sondheim|James Poulos|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The most violent offense committed by Wahlberg occurred on the night of April 8, 1988.
Mark Wahlberg’s Pardon Plea: A Look Back At His Troubling, Violent, and Racist Rap Sheet|Marlow Stern|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If this were accurate, it would mean that the Wilson stopped Brown over a minor offense, not a felony.
Why Darren Wilson Will Walk|Dean Obeidallah|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Of how incredibly petty the offense can be and how insanely disproportionate the retaliation can be.
Of Gamers, Gates, and Disco Demolition: The Roots of Reactionary Rage|Arthur Chu|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In this way it will be managed with less offense and with more ease to the conscience than now.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
In harmony with a fundamental rule of law, a member who has once been acquitted cannot be tried again for the same offense.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
It is almost amusing to see the efforts they make to avoid shaking hands with people, without giving direct offense.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley
He described the men at the Lion d'Or as truculent, easily ready to take offense, difficult to persuade.
The Light That Lures|Percy Brebner
Any offense against the grammar of our language is a sin against good use.
English: Composition and Literature|W. F. (William Franklin) Webster

Other Idioms and Phrases with offense

offense

see no offense; take offense.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.