offense

American  

[uh-fens, aw-fens, of-ens] / əˈfɛns, ˈɔ fɛns, ˈɒf ɛns /

British, offence

noun

• offenses
  plural

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

   Synonyms:

   fault, felony, trespass

2. a transgression of the law; misdemeanor.

   Synonyms:

   fault, felony, trespass

3. a cause of transgression or wrong.

4. something that offends or displeases.

5. the act of offending or displeasing.

6. the feeling of resentful displeasure caused.

   to give offense.

   Synonyms:

   wrath, resentment, umbrage, indignation

   Antonyms:

   pleasure

7. the act of attacking; attack or assault.

   weapons of offense.

   Synonyms:

   aggression

   Antonyms:

   defense

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

   Synonyms:

   foe, enemy

9. Sports.

   1. the players or team unit responsible for attacking or scoring in a game.

   2. the players possessing or controlling the ball, puck, etc., or the aspects or period of a game when this obtains.

   3. a pattern or style of scoring attack.

      single-wing offense; fast-break offense.

   4. offensive effectiveness; ability to score.

      a total breakdown in offense.

10. Archaic. injury, harm, or hurt.

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offense Idioms  

1. see no offense; take offense.

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Synonym Usage

See crime.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-offense
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• offenses
  plural

Etymology

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

Explanation

The part of a team that tries to score points is called the offense. If you play forward on a soccer team, you are on offense. If you offend someone — that is you cause them to be upset because of your actions or words — then you may need to apologize for the offense. After all, you meant no offense when you said that disco was dead. How were you to know the guy still loved the '70s? In the eyes of the law, an offense is a crime.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

offense offenses

“To the contrary, we have repeatedly held that mere offense, disagreement, or distaste does not qualify as a concrete and particularized injury under Article III” of the Constitution.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

The majority said Supreme Court precedents make clear that “mere offense, disagreement or distaste” isn’t enough.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

Now we’ll find out whether in Season 5, Riley’s Trojans have a defense on par with the offense.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

He used to be a three-sport athlete at San Dimas, which has long used the Wing-T offense in football.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026

"You really don't. My mother was an immortal goddess. You cannot compare her life to your brother's. No offense."

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Due to the gravity of the offenses, the location where they were perpetrated, and the fact that he was already out on two separate bonds, Poland initially set his new bond at $1.25 million.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

Opposing offenses built entire game plans around them, knowing it would often take throwing two guys in their way to give the quarterback a chance of getting a pass off.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

The offenses allegedly took place between 2010 and 2017.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

California established mental health diversion in 2018 to prioritize treatment over punishment for eligible defendants whose mental illness contributed to their alleged offenses.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

But the worst offenses occurred during the election of 1800.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• breach
• crime
• infraction
• misdeed
• misdemeanor
• sin
• transgression
• wrongdoing