What does "offense" mean?
The act of offending.; A crime or sin.
Offense
/əˈfɛns/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of offending.; A crime or sin.
- Grammar: offense is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: affront, insult, slight, act lawlessly.
- Useful contrasts: compliance, courtesy, defence.
- Usage evidence: That is a criminal offense, and you will surely be punished!
How to use "offense"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "offense" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "offense" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "offense" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "offense" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "offense" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "affront" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "offense", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of offending.; A crime or sin. US, countable, uncountable
"The slave fully appreciates the saying, "where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise." When old master's gestures were violent, ending with a threatening shake of the head, and a sharp snap of his middle finger and thumb, I deemed it wise to keep at a respectable distance from him; for, at such times, trifling faults stood, in his eyes, as momentous offenses; and, having both the power and the disposition, the victim had only to be near him to catch the punishment, deserved or undeserved."
- 2 a transgression that constitutes a violation of what is judged to be right wordnet
- 3 The act of offending.; An affront, injury, or insult. US, countable, uncountable
"Thus I have ventur'd to give my Opinion on this Subject againſt the Authority of tvvo great men, but I hope vvithout offence to either of their Memories, for I both lov'd them living, and reverence them now they are dead."
- 4 the action of attacking an enemy wordnet
- 5 The state of being offended or displeased; anger; displeasure. US, countable, uncountable
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings of others wordnet
- 7 A strategy and tactics employed when in position to score; contrasted with defense. US, countable, uncountable
- 8 a feeling of anger caused by being offended wordnet
- 9 The portion of a team dedicated to scoring when in position to do so; contrasted with defense. US, countable, uncountable
- 10 the team that has the ball (or puck) and is trying to score wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"That is a criminal offense, and you will surely be punished!"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "offense"?
Common synonyms include: affront, insult, slight, act lawlessly, adulteries, affray.
How do you use "offense" in a sentence?
That is a criminal offense, and you will surely be punished!
How do you pronounce "offense"?
Pronounced /əˈfɛns/.
Etymology
From Middle English offence, from Old French offense, from Latin offensa (“a striking against; displeasure; injury”).