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offense Definition

of·fense (ə fens′; also, and for n. 7 always, ô′fens′)

noun

  1. an offending; specif.,
    1. the act of breaking a law; sin or crime; transgression
    2. the act of creating resentment, hurt feelings, displeasure, etc.
  2. the condition of being offended, esp. of feeling hurt, resentful, or angry; umbrage
  3. Rare something that causes sinning or wrongdoing
  4. something that causes resentment, anger, etc.
  5. the act of attacking or assaulting; aggression
  6. the person, army, etc. that is attacking
  7. ☆ Sports
    1. a team when it is attempting to score against an opponent in any contest
    2. the ability to score against an opposing team
    3. the strategy, plays, etc. used in attempting to score against an opposing team

Etymology: ME < MFr < L offensa < pp. of offendere: see offend

offense Idioms

give offense

to offend; anger, insult, etc.

on offense

Sports engaged in an attempt to score against an opposing team

take offense

to become offended; feel hurt, angry, etc.

offense Synonyms

offense

n.

  1. A misdeed

    misdemeanor, malfeasance, transgression; see crime 1, 2, sin.

  2. An attack

    assault, aggression, battery; see attack 1.

    Styles of offense in football include: running attack*, shotgun offense*, T-formation*, wishbone*, passing attack*, straight football*, power plays*, cross-bucks and spinners*, flying wedge*, razzle-dazzle*, the aerial route*, the bust-em philosophy*.

  3. Styles of offense in basketball include: five-man attack*, four-man offense*, center fan*, cartwheel*, slow-breaking attack*, fast-breaking attack*.

  4. Resentment

    umbrage, resentment, pique, indignation, displeasure, hurt, huff, disgust, high dudgeon; see also anger, resentment.

offense, in this connection, implies displeased or hurt feelings as the result of a slight, insult, etc. don't take offense at my criticism; resentment adds implications of indignation, a brooding over an injury, and ill will toward the offender a resentment cherished for days; umbrage implies offense or resentment at being slighted or having one's pride hurt he took umbrage at the tone of her letter; pique suggests a passing feeling of ruffled pride, usually over a trifle; displeasure may describe a feeling varying from dissatisfaction or disapproval to anger and indignation

offense Law Definition

n

Any violation of the law for which the judicial code demands there be a penalty, including misdemeanors and felonies. See also crime.
offense Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • commit: Even agents who have committed far more serious offenses on behalf of hostile nations have not received such a harsh sentence.
  • constitute: But any citizen summoned or arrested in virtue of the law shall submit without delay, as resistance constitutes an offense.
  • cause: Are there pictures, colors or images that would cause offense?
  • take: I take offense with people putting word into my mouth.
  • mean: Don't be offended; I mean no offense.
  • consider: Several of the outfits, Ignatius noticed, were new enough and expensive enough to be properly considered offenses against taste and decency.

Preposition: in

  • organization: Warning: Re NMAP software: even just downloading nmap - may be a sackable offense in many organizations.

Adjective modifier

  • petty: Petty offense or not they may look like players also tend.
  • punishable: It became a punishable offense to report sick with sunburn.
  • sackable: Warning: Re NMAP software: even just downloading nmap - may be a sackable offense in many organizations.
  • criminal: It was a civil offense, not a criminal offense.
  • federal: The kind of camping you do is a federal offense.
  • alleged: And even this is only true if the earlier alleged offenses were genuine.

Modifies a noun

  • hand: Petty offense hand than them they can have watch how hands.
  • level: People playing texas petty offense level of experience any two cardsnow.
  • manner: Return calls seeking petty offense manner which reflects hands they are.
  • number: A memo added petty offense number of hands vegas at the.

Noun used with modifier

  • felony: Of the tops the felony offenses business m m of the pay.
  • capital: It was a capital offense at the time to enter or leave the country.
  • drug: There has been little trouble apart from a number of arrests for drug offenses.