offense
Use Offense in a sentence
fɛns, ˈɒf noun
1.
a violation or breaking of a social or moral rule; transgression; sin.
2.
a transgression of the law; misdemeanor.
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.
7.
the act of attacking; attack or assault: weapons of offense.
8.
a person, army, etc., that is attacking.
9.
Sports.
a.
the players or team unit responsible for attacking or scoring in a game.
b.
the players possessing or controlling the ball, puck, etc., or the aspects or period of a game when this obtains.
c.
a pattern or style of scoring attack: single-wing offense; fast-break offense.
d.
offensive effectiveness; ability to score: a total breakdown in offense.
10.
Archaic. injury, harm, or hurt.
Also, offence.
Origin:
1325–75; Middle English offence, offense; in part < Middle French offens < Latin offēnsus collision, knock, equivalent to offend(ere) (see offend) + -tus suffix of v. action; in part < Middle French offense ≪ Latin offēnsa, feminine past participle of offendere
1325–75; Middle English offence, offense; in part < Middle French offens < Latin offēnsus collision, knock, equivalent to offend(ere) (see offend) + -tus suffix of v. action; in part < Middle French offense ≪ Latin offēnsa, feminine past participle of offendere
Related forms
self-of·fense, noun
Synonyms
1, 2. trespass, felony, fault. See crime. 6. umbrage, resentment, wrath, indignation. 7. aggression. 8. besiegers, attackers, enemy, foe.
1, 2. trespass, felony, fault. See crime. 6. umbrage, resentment, wrath, indignation. 7. aggression. 8. besiegers, attackers, enemy, foe.
Antonyms
6. pleasure. 7. defense.
6. pleasure. 7. defense.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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|
Link To offense
00:10
Offense
is always a great word to know.
So is lollapalooza. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
offence or offense (əˈfɛns) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a violation or breach of a law, custom, rule, etc |
| 2. | a. any public wrong or crime |
| b. a nonindictable crime punishable on summary conviction | |
| 3. | annoyance, displeasure, or resentment |
| 4. | give offence, give offence to someone to cause annoyance or displeasure to someone |
| 5. | take offence to feel injured, humiliated, or offended |
| 6. | a source of annoyance, displeasure, or anger |
| 7. | attack; assault |
| 8. | archaic injury or harm |
| 9. | American football the offense |
| a. the team that has possession of the ball | |
| b. the members of a team that play in such circumstances | |
| offense or offense (əˈfɛns, ˈɒfɛns) | |
| —n | |
| of'fenceless or offense | |
| —adj | |
| of'fenseless or offense | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
offense
late 14c., "hurt, harm, injury, pain," from O.Fr. offense, from L. offensa "an offense, injury, a striking against," properly fem. pp. of offendere (see offend). Meaning "action of attacking" and "feeling of being hurt" are both first recorded c.1400. Sense of "breach of
the law, transgression" is first recorded late 14c. Sporting sense first recorded 1912 (in adj., offensive).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
Rather than being on the defense, having to prove yourself usefulness as an economist, you should go on the offense.
No one, no even the fiercest critic of modernity, takes offense at them.
He responded in a manner expressing his offense that someone would even consider such a thing.
In addition, those who provide false information when registering a domain name could also be charged with a federal offense.
Idioms & Phrases
Images for offense
Nearby Words
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