Offense has 7 different meanings across 1 category:
Noun
Noun
1
a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others
"His rude interruption was considered a serious offense against her patience and dignity."
2
a feeling of anger caused by being offended
"he took offence at my question"
3
a transgression that constitutes a violation of what is judged to be right
"The judge ruled that his reckless driving was an offense against public safety."
4
the team that has the ball (or puck) and is trying to score
"The coach adjusted his strategy before the offense moved into the final minutes of the game."
5
the action of attacking an enemy
"The army launched a sudden offense against the fortified city at dawn."
6
The act of offending:
"His rude interruption was considered an offense against her patience."
7
a crime or sin
"The detective investigated the burglary as a serious offense against property laws."
In plain English: An offense is an action that breaks a rule or hurts someone else's feelings.
"The referee called an offense because he thought the player had pushed his opponent too hard."
Example Sentences
"The referee called an offense because he thought the player had pushed his opponent too hard."
noun
"The new security policy was an offense to privacy advocates who feared data misuse."
noun
"His first offense of speeding resulted in just a warning from the police officer."
noun
"The team celebrated their victory after such a long season without any major offenses on defense."
noun
Related Terms
Show all 78 terms ↓
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
Origin
The word entered English via the Old French offense, which originally described a physical strike or an act of injuring someone. Over time, its meaning broadened to include feelings of displeasure rather than just literal harm.