offense

noun

of·​fense ə-ˈfen(t)s 

especially for sense 3

ˈä-ˌfen(t)s 

ˈȯ-

variants or offence

1

: something that outrages the moral or physical senses

His conduct is an offense to public decency.

Such screaming is an offense to my ears.

2

a

: the act of displeasing or affronting

no offense intended and none taken, I hope

b

: the state of being insulted or morally outraged

takes offense at the slightest criticism

we ought not … to give offense by sexist words or phrases

—J. J. Kilpatrick

3

a

: the offensive team or members of a team playing offensive positions

The stronger offense won the game.

b

: the means or method of attacking or of attempting to score

The quarterback's passing success was the team's edge in offense.

c

: scoring ability

d

: the act of attacking : assault

weapons of offense

4

a

: an infraction of law

was stopped by the police for a traffic offense

especially : misdemeanor

had a record of petty offenses

b

: a breach of a moral or social code : sin, misdeed

was tolerant of his youthful offenses

5

a

archaic : a cause or occasion of sin : stumbling block

b

obsolete : an act of stumbling

offenseless

ə-ˈfen(t)s-ləs 

 especially for sense 3  ˈä-ˌfen(t)s-

ˈȯ-

adjective

Synonyms

• breach
• crime
• debt
• error
• lawbreaking
• malefaction
• misdeed
• misdoing
• sin
• transgression
• trespass
• violation
• wrongdoing

Choose the Right Synonym for offense

offense, resentment, umbrage, pique, dudgeon, huff mean an emotional response to or an emotional state resulting from a slight or indignity.

offense implies hurt displeasure.

takes deep offense at racial slurs

resentment suggests lasting indignation or ill will.

harbored a lifelong resentment of his brother

umbrage may suggest hurt pride, resentment, or suspicion of another's motives.

took umbrage at the offer of advice

pique applies to a transient feeling of wounded vanity.

in a pique I foolishly declined the invitation

dudgeon suggests an angry fit of indignation.

stormed out of the meeting in high dudgeon

huff implies a peevish short-lived spell of anger usually at a petty cause.

in a huff he slammed the door

offense, sin, vice, crime, scandal mean a transgression of law.

offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code.

at that school no offense went unpunished

sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.

the sin of blasphemy

vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts.

regarded gambling as a vice

crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state.

the crime of murder

scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience.

a career ruined by a sex scandal

Examples of offense in a Sentence

He was found guilty and fined $250 for each offense.

Penalties for a first offense range from fines to jail time.

Our team has the best offense in the league.

The quarterback directs the offense.

The team needs some work on its offense.

The team plays good offense.

Recent Examples on the Web

Seattle offense collects three first-half touchdowns This was a big day for the Seahawks’ offense. —Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024

As the league’s most efficient offense, the team relies on his ability to stretch the floor, his physicality on the boards, and his innate feel for the game. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Dec. 2024

Indiana has one of the better offenses in the country but they were exposed going up against Ohio State a few weeks ago. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024

The return of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua has bolstered the team’s receiving core but the Rams’ offense has been uncharacteristically stodgy under head coach Sean McVay. —Ben Morse, CNN, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English offence, offense "assault, breach of law, causing of displeasure," borrowed from Anglo-French offense, borrowed from Latin offensa "encounter with an obstacle, injury, wrong," noun derivative from feminine of offensus, past participle of offendere "to strike against, break a rule, displease" — more at offend

Note: The English senses "act of stumbling, stumbling block" are dependent on the Biblical passage "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense" (Isaiah 8:14, 1 Peter 2:8 in the Authorized/King James Version), itself dependent on the literal sense "stumble upon" of Latin offendere and its derivatives (cf. Vulgate "lapis offensionis et petra scandali").

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5b

Phrases Containing offense

• give/cause offense
• mean no offense
• no offense
• on offense
• take offense

Kids Definition

offense

noun

of·​fense

variants or offence

ə-ˈfen(t)s 

especially for sense 2

ˈäf-ˌen(t)s 

ˈȯf-

1

: something that offends

2

a

: an act of attacking : assault

b

: the method of attacking or attempting to score in a game or contest

c

: the side that is attempting to score

3

a

: the act of offending

I meant no offense

b

: the state of being offended

takes offense at any criticism

4

a

: a violation of a social or moral code

b

: a breaking of the law

Legal Definition

offense

noun

of·​fense

variants or offence

ə-ˈfens 

1

: a violation of the law

especially : a criminal act

nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy

—U.S. Constitution amend. V

see also lesser included offense

2

in the civil law of Louisiana : an intentional unlawful act that causes damage to another and for which the law imposes an obligation for damages compare quasi contract at contract, quasi-offense

Note: Breach of contract, offenses, quasi-offenses, and quasi contracts are the bases for civil liability under Louisiana civil law. Offenses and quasi-offenses are comparable to common-law torts.