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

Indeed, Apple has gone on the offensive with aggressive pricing for entry-level devices of its own, the iPhone 17e and new MacBook Neo.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

After going into self-imposed exile, he re-emerged last year in Goma, the key eastern city that had come under the control of Rwandan-based M23 fighters as they mounted a lightning offensive.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

With the “special relationship” on the rocks, the U.K.’s ties with President Trump now rest on a charm offensive by King George III’s great-great-great-great-great grandson.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

It will be a charm offensive by the UK, attending ceremonial events in Washington and making a symbolic show of solidarity at the 9/11 Memorial in New York.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

He still spoke in a familiar rather offensive way.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

Related Words

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