offline

American  

[awf-lahyn, of-] / ˈɔfˈlaɪn, ˈɒf- /

Or off-line,

adjective

1. Computers. operating independently of, or disconnected from, an associated computer.

2. Radio. (of a network) not supplying affiliated stations with programming but allowing each station to program its own shows, usually within a specific format.

3. Television. of or relating to the preliminary planning and editing of a videotaped program.

4. located in or serving a place not on a regular route of a railroad, bus, or air carrier.

   an offline ticket office.

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adverb

1. in or to a more private place.

   We should take this discussion offline.

offline British  

/ ˈɒfˌlaɪn /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or concerned with a part of a computer system not connected to the central processing unit but controlled by a computer storage device See online

2. disconnected from a computer; switched off

3. extra to or not involving a continuous sequence of operations, such as a production line

4. radio television (of processes, such as editing) not carried out on the actual transmission medium

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adverb

1. while not connected to a computer or the internet

Etymology

Origin of offline

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

It had become the most powerful cyberweapon ever assembled, large enough to knock a state or even a small country offline.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Balmer told the BBC there was "clearly a spread of both online and offline targeting".

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Nearly a month into the Iran conflict and the amazing thing is how little markets have changed, despite some 20% of the world’s supply of oil being offline.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

OpenAI also appears to be winding down ChatGPT’s video functionality and taking all its animation APIs offline.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

“We think Courage went offline during a dust storm,” Xander continues.

From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga