Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

offense

[ uh-fens aw-fens, of-ens ]

noun

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

    Synonyms: , ,

  2. a transgression of the law; misdemeanor.

    Synonyms: , ,

  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: , , ,

    Antonyms:

  7. the act of attacking; attack or assault:

    weapons of offense.

    Synonyms:

    Antonyms:

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

    Synonyms: ,

  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.


Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • -Ǵ·ڱԲ noun
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of offense1

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

Idioms and Phrases

see no offense ; take offense .
Discover More

Synonym Study

See crime.
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Castillo’s DNA was found in a database known as Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, that helps law enforcement link crime scenes to individuals previously convicted of certain offenses.

From

The Chargers used the draft to add firepower to an offense that sputtered last season.

From

The Bruins have several players wearing the same number on offense and defense.

From

Here’s a breakdown of the Chargers’ 2025 NFL draft class, which features nine players, five on offense and four on defense.

From

The Clippers fell behind 85-65 at the end of the third quarter, their offense struggling and their defense unable to control the Nuggets in the early going of the second half.

From

Advertisement

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


offenderoffenseless