offense

American  

[uh-fens, aw-fens, of-ens] / əˈfɛns, ˈɔ fɛns, ˈɒf ɛns /

British, offence

noun

1. a violation or breaking of a social or moral rule; transgression; sin.

   Synonyms:

   fault, felony, trespass

2. a transgression of the law; misdemeanor.

   Synonyms:

   fault, felony, trespass

3. a cause of transgression or wrong.

4. something that offends or displeases.

5. the act of offending or displeasing.

6. the feeling of resentful displeasure caused.

   to give offense.

   Synonyms:

   wrath, resentment, umbrage, indignation

   Antonyms:

   pleasure

7. the act of attacking; attack or assault.

   weapons of offense.

   Synonyms:

   aggression

   Antonyms:

   defense

8. a person, army, etc., that is attacking.

   Synonyms:

   foe, foe, enemy

9. Sports.

   1. the players or team unit responsible for attacking or scoring in a game.

   2. the players possessing or controlling the ball, puck, etc., or the aspects or period of a game when this obtains.

   3. a pattern or style of scoring attack.

      single-wing offense; fast-break offense.

   4. offensive effectiveness; ability to score.

      a total breakdown in offense.

10. Archaic. injury, harm, or hurt.

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offense Idioms  

1. see no offense; take offense.

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Related Words

See crime.

Other Word Forms

• self-offense noun

Etymology

Origin of offense

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English offence, offense; in part from Middle French offens, from Latin offēnsus “collision, knock,” equivalent to offend(ere) ( offend ) + -tus suffix of verb action; in part from Middle French offense, ultimately from Latin offēnsa, feminine past participle of offendere

Example Sentences

With profits growing and cash on hand, he said, the company can be “on offense when others are playing defense and really capture market share.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Duke’s 26.8% opposing three-point percentage is the 15th-best in the nation and that challenged the Bruins’ offense, which became one dimensional trying to get the ball to Betts in the post.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026

Are board members being dragged into this, or are they going on the offense because they already see the benefits of AI adoption?

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Under Hong Kong’s vague and sweeping national-security laws, that offense carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

A spitball heads toward Mr. Garfield, not at him, not a suspension-worthy offense, just a warning shot.

From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon

Related Words

• breach
• crime
• infraction
• misdeed
• misdemeanor
• sin
• transgression
• wrongdoing