offensive

American  

[uh-fen-siv, aw-fen-, of-en-] / əˈfɛn sɪv, ˈɔ fɛn-, ˈɒf ɛn- /

adjective

1. causing resentful displeasure; highly irritating, angering, or annoying.

   offensive television commercials.

   Synonyms:

   unpleasant, vexatious

   Antonyms:

   pleasing

2. unpleasant or disagreeable to the sense.

   an offensive odor.

   Synonyms:

   repellent, revolting, disgusting, distasteful

   Antonyms:

   pleasing

3. repugnant to the moral sense, good taste, or the like; insulting.

   an offensive remark; an offensive joke.

   Synonyms:

   disgusting, distasteful, shocking, repulsive, repellent, revolting

4. pertaining to offense or attack.

   the offensive movements of their troops.

   Antonyms:

   defensive

5. characterized by attack; aggressive.

   offensive warfare.

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noun

1. the position or attitude of aggression or attack.

   to take the offensive.

2. an aggressive movement or attack.

   a carefully planned naval offensive.

offensive British  

/ əˈfɛnsɪv /

adjective

1. unpleasant or disgusting, as to the senses

2. causing anger or annoyance; insulting

3. for the purpose of attack rather than defence

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noun

1. an attitude or position of aggression

2. an assault, attack, or military initiative, esp a strategic one

Usage

The label Offensive is used in this dictionary to indicate that a particular term or definition is likely to be perceived as insulting by a listener or reader—an affront to that particular individual or to an entire group of like individuals—whether or not an offense was intended. Offensive is often paired with the label Disparaging, which is used to indicate that those people who use the offensive term do so to offend intentionally.

Related Words

See hateful.

Other Word Forms

• nonoffensive
  adjective
• nonoffensively
  adverb
• nonoffensiveness
  noun
• offensively
  adverb
• offensiveness
  noun
• overoffensive
  adjective
• overoffensively
  adverb
• overoffensiveness
  noun
• preoffensive
  adjective
• preoffensively
  adverb
• preoffensiveness
  noun
• quasi-offensive
  adjective
• quasi-offensively
  adverb
• superoffensive
  adjective
• superoffensively
  adverb
• superoffensiveness
  noun
• unoffensive
  adjective
• unoffensively
  adverb
• unoffensiveness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of offensive

First recorded in 1540–50; from Medieval Latin offēnsīvus, from Latin offēns(us) “struck against” (past participle of offendere “to strike against, displease”; see offend) + -īvus -ive

Explanation

Offensive describes rude or hurtful behavior, or a military or sports incursion into an opponent's territory. In any context, "on the offensive" means on the attack. Although offense and defense are opposites, offensive and defensive aren't always. Defensive can mean anxiously challenging of all criticism. Offensive can mean not just attacking someone or something, but belching, insulting people, or otherwise not respecting common standards of behavior.

Example Sentences

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has stressed the importance of "opening other horizons" at a time when both Mexico and the EU are grappling with US President Donald Trump's tariff offensive.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

Also in 2001, Carroll hired Kiffin, who started as tight ends coach and eventually worked his way up to offensive coordinator.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

Manchester City won six of the previous eight championships with an overwhelming attack that set new standards for offensive production.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

"Bob Vylan are an offensive act," she told the hearing.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

First Army and launched the war’s first major independent American offensive.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Related Words

• abhorrent
• abusive
• annoying
• distasteful
• embarrassing
• horrible
• irritating
• objectionable
• obnoxious
• outrageous
• reprehensible
• repugnant
• repulsive
• rude
• shocking