Offense Definition

ə-fĕns
offenses
noun
offenses
An offending.
Webster's New World
The condition of being offended, esp. of feeling hurt, resentful, or angry; umbrage.
Webster's New World
The state of being offended.
American Heritage
Something that causes resentment, anger, etc.
Webster's New World
A violation or infraction of a moral or social code; a transgression or sin.
American Heritage
idiom
give offense
  • to offend; anger, insult, etc.
Webster's New World
on offense
  • engaged in an attempt to score against an opposing team
Webster's New World
take offense
  • to become offended; feel hurt, angry, etc.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Offense

Noun

Singular:
offense
Plural:
offenses

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Offense

Origin of Offense

  • Middle English from Old French ofense from Latin offēnsa from feminine past participle of offendere to offend offend

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Latin offensa (“a striking against; displeasure; injury").

    From Wiktionary

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to offense using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

Words Ending With

Unscrambles

offense