offside

[ awf-sahyd, of- ]

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.

offside

/ 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

noun

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

      the offside passenger door

Word History and Origins

Origin of offside¹

First recorded in 1840–50; off + side ¹

Example Sentences

"Stones' goal was disallowed on-field due to Bernardo Silva being in an offside position and in the goalkeeper's line of vision," the Premier League's match centre posted on X, formerly Twitter.

From BBC

"Stones' goal was disallowed on-field due to Bernardo Silva being in an offside position and in the goalkeeper's line of vision," the Premier League's match centre posted on X.

From BBC

The result of Carsley's experimentation was an unseemly shambles, a confused tactical mess that was desperate defensively, with Greece having the ball in England's net five times only to see three ruled out for offside.

From BBC

Hirtopeanu also pleaded guilty to driving whilst unfit through drink, failing to stop, failing to provide specimen for analysis and driving a vehicle drawing a trailer on the offside lane of a motorway.

From BBC

The Gophers just upset USC and might have toppled Michigan on the road had referees not nullified a perfectly executed onside kick because of an alleged offsides penalty.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• erroneous
• inaccurate
• mistaken
• sadly mistaken
• wrong