offside
Americanadjective
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Sports. illegally beyond a prescribed line or area or in advance of the ball or puck at the beginning of or during play or a play.
The touchdown was nullified because the offensive left tackle was offside.
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with or in doubtful propriety or taste; risqué.
an offside joke.
adjective
noun
Etymology
Origin of offside
Vocabulary lists containing offside
A Soccer and a Football Special
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World Cup Vocabulary
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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.
Beyond VAR to review on-field decisions, soccer’s governing body has also introduced semi-automated technology to make offside calls practically in real-time and a sensor in the ball designed to detect the slightest touch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Croatia fans can hardly believe that their extra-time equalizer against Portugal was wiped out for an offside call triggered by a cross grazing a player’s hair.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Perisic’s cross had brushed the hair of teammate Igor Matanovic, leaving Mario Pasalic in an offside position when the ball reached him near the far post.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
Josko Gvardiol's stoppage-time goal is ruled out for offside after a VAR review, denying Croatia an equaliser against Portugal in their World Cup knockout match in Toronto.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
The Lightning made a run, took a shot, and appeared to score, but the linesman raised his flag to signify offside.
From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John
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.
