offside

American  

[awf-sahyd, of-] / ˈɔfˈsaɪd, ˈɒf- /

adjective

1. 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.

2. with or in doubtful propriety or taste; risqué.

   an offside joke.

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offside British  

/ ˈɒfˈsaɪd /

adjective

1. sport (in football, hockey, etc) in a position illegally ahead of the ball or puck when it is played, usually when within one's opponents' half or the attacking zone

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noun

1. 1. the side of a vehicle nearest the centre of the road (in Britain, the right side)

   2. ( as modifier )

      the offside passenger door

Etymology

Origin of offside

First recorded in 1840–50; off + side ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

offside

United avoided the ignominy of a third successive three-goal defeat for the first time since 1961 thanks to a very tight VAR decision that ruled out Estevao's effort for offside.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

Estevao had an early goal ruled out for offside before another fine near-post finish in the second half was disallowed - a marginal decision.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

The goal that we thought had made it 2-1 was disallowed - correctly - for offside, but the build-up was more of the same.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

After Tanook Hines dropped a third-down pass, USC lined up to draw Rutgers offside, and it worked.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

I ran downfield and positioned myself in front of the goal, being careful not to get offside.

From "Facing the Lion" by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton and Herman Viola

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Related Words

• erroneous
• inaccurate
• mistaken
• sadly mistaken
• wrong

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