DictionaryAI

offence

noun
Sayuh-FENS/əˈfɛns/

Pluraloffences

US spellingoffense

4 meanings of offence

Practice

  1. 1
    crimenouncountable
    Something a person does that breaks the law or a religious or moral rule.

    It is an offence to drive a car without a licence.

    She asked God to forgive her offences.

    UsageSay commit an offence, and it is an offence to do something.

    Similarcrime, violation, sin, transgression, wrongdoing

  2. 2
    hurtful thingnouncountable or uncountable
    Something said or done that is rude or unfair and hurts someone's feelings.

    His rude joke was an offence to everyone at the table.

    To her, not being thanked for her help was a great offence.

    UsageSay something is an offence to someone.

    Similarinsult, affront, slight

    Note
  3. 3
    hurt feelingsnoununcountable
    An upset or angry feeling, often because you think someone has been rude to you.

    Please don't take offence. I was only joking.

    Some readers took offence at the newspaper's cartoon.

    UsageYou take offence at what someone says; they cause offence.

    Similarumbrage, resentment, indignation, annoyance, outrage

    Note
  4. 4
    attacking playnounUSCanadacountable or uncountable
    The way a team plays when it is trying to score, not when it is trying to stop the other team.

    The coach spent the whole training session working on offence.

    Our team plays good defence but is weak on offence.

    UsageSay OFF-ence. A team plays on offence when it tries to score.

    Similarattack

    Oppositedefence

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of offence apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes, through French, from a Latin word meaning “a striking against” or “injury”.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts