offence
Pluraloffences
US spellingoffense
- 1An illegal act, or a wrongdoing that breaks religious or moral law.
He was banned from driving after a string of motoring offences.
The preacher spoke of pride as the gravest offence against God.
UsagePeople commit an offence; against names who or what is wronged, and it is an offence to do something.
Similarcrime, violation, sin, transgression, wrongdoing
- 2Something said or done that insults, slights or wrongs a person or group.
Many locals saw the closure of the village school as an offence to the whole community.
She never forgave the offence of being left off the wedding guest list.
UsageUsually an offence to someone or against something: an offence to the whole community.
Similarinsult, affront, slight
Note
Polite English has long disclaimed it in advance. Dryden, setting his opinion against two great men in his preface to Ovid's Epistles (1680), hopes to do so without offence to their memories, and today's no offence, said just before a blunt remark, does the same job in two words.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Dryden wrote the preface to Ovid’s Epistles, published in 1680. gutenberg.org
- Dryden sets his opinion against two great men and hopes to avoid offending their memories, providing a historical example of disclaiming offence. gutenberg.org
- 3A feeling of displeasure or anger, often at something taken as an insult or a slight.
She took offence at his comments about her cooking.
Several members took offence at the chairman's remarks and walked out of the meeting before the vote.
UsagePeople take offence at something; the one who upsets them gives or causes offence.
Similarumbrage, resentment, indignation, annoyance, outrage
Note
Because the word names the reaction rather than the slight itself, offence can be taken where none was meant, which is why apologies so often say that none was intended.
- 4A team's plan and style of play when it is in a position to score, as opposed to its play in defence.
In the second half the Bears finally found some rhythm on offence.
The new coach brought in an offence built around short, quick passes.
UsageStressed on the first syllable, OFF-ence. Without a, on offence is the phase of play; an offence is a coach's scheme.
Similarattack
Oppositedefence
Note
A North American sports word: outside the US and Canada the usual term is attack, and offence in a British match report would more likely mean a foul.
Practice
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Origin
The Middle English form was already offence. It came from Old French offense, which goes back to Latin offensa, a word meaning “a striking against”, “displeasure” or “injury”.