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”; 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

"As Sentebale’s co-founder and a founding trustee, they categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims," a spokesperson for the pair said in a statement.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Takeshita said the tech firms were "very cooperative" but admitted their view of which posts were offensive did not always match up.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

Tuesday and jumped into offensive mode, coordinating roof ventilation, fire suppression and salvage operations on the third floor, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Here are some of those significant - and, to many, offensive - moments.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

The Italians finally managed to regroup eighty miles to the rear along the Piave River, but the Italian army, like the French, would not return to the offensive until the following year.

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