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offense

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of⋅fense

  [uh-fens or, for 7–9, aw-fens, of-ens]
Use offense in a Sentence
–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; ME offence, offense; in part < MF offens < L offēnsus collision, knock, equiv. to offend(ere) (see offend ) + -tus suffix of v. action; in part < MF offense ≪ L offēnsa, fem. ptp. of offendere

Synonyms:
1, 2. trespass, felony, fault. See crime. 6. umbrage, resentment, wrath, indignation. 7. aggression. 8. besiegers, attackers, enemy, foe.

Antonyms:
6. pleasure. 7. defense.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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of·fense   (ə-fěns')   
n.  

    1. The act of causing anger, resentment, displeasure, or affront.

    2. The state of being offended.

    3. A violation or infraction of a moral or social code; a transgression or sin.

    4. A transgression of law; a crime.

    5. The means or tactics used in attempting to score.

    6. A team in possession of the ball or puck, or those players whose primary duty is to attempt to score.

    7. Scoring ability or potential.

    1. A violation or infraction of a moral or social code; a transgression or sin.

    2. A transgression of law; a crime.

    3. The means or tactics used in attempting to score.

    4. A team in possession of the ball or puck, or those players whose primary duty is to attempt to score.

    5. Scoring ability or potential.

  3. Something that outrages moral sensibilities: Genocide is an offense to all civilized humans.

  4. (ŏf'ěns') The act of attacking or assaulting.

  5. (ŏf'ěns') Sports

    1. The means or tactics used in attempting to score.

    2. A team in possession of the ball or puck, or those players whose primary duty is to attempt to score.

    3. Scoring ability or potential.


[Middle English, from Old French ofense, from Latin offēnsa, from feminine past participle of offendere, to offend; see offend.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

offense 
c.1374, "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 1382. Sporting sense first recorded 1912 (in adj., offensive).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: of·fense
Variant: or of·fence /&-'fens/
Function: noun
1 : a violation of the law; especially : a criminal act offense to be twice put in jeopardy —U.S. Constitution amendment 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 the civil law. Offenses and quasi-offenses are comparable to common-law torts.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

offense

see no offense; take offense.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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