offline
Americanadjective
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Computers. operating independently of, or disconnected from, an associated computer.
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Radio. (of a network) not supplying affiliated stations with programming but allowing each station to program its own shows, usually within a specific format.
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Television. of or relating to the preliminary planning and editing of a videotaped program.
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located in or serving a place not on a regular route of a railroad, bus, or air carrier.
an offline ticket office.
adverb
adjective
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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
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disconnected from a computer; switched off
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extra to or not involving a continuous sequence of operations, such as a production line
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radio television (of processes, such as editing) not carried out on the actual transmission medium
adverb
Etymology
Origin of offline
First recorded in 1925–30
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Month Offline initiative was launched a year ago by a company called Dumb.co.
From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026
Last year, he co-founded Offline, a company that matches marketers with offline groups and helps them assess returns though metrics such as check-ins and attendees’ total social reach.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
Rachel Franz, director of Fairplay’s Young Children Thrive Offline program, said these toys are marketed as a way to educate and entertain kids — online to millions of people.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 24, 2025
Offline listening, which happens when you download a song to your device, is counted toward your listening data only if you reconnect to the internet.
From BBC • Dec. 3, 2025
Offline When your computer is not connected to a host system or the Net, you are offline.
From Big Dummy's Guide to the Internet by Electronic Frontier Foundation
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
