noun
offense
uh-FEHNS
noun
1
A wrongdoing, crime, or breach of a rule.
"Speeding is a minor traffic offense in most states."
"He was arrested for a second offense within a year."
2
A feeling of hurt or anger caused by something insulting or disrespectful.
"She took offense at the joke about her accent."
"No offense was meant by the comment."
3
In sports, the team or players trying to score, as opposed to defense.
"The offense struggled to move the ball in the second half."
How to Use Offense
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a rule-breaking act, the hurt feeling from an insult, or (in sports) the scoring team.
UK vs US
American English spells it "offense"; British English usually prefers "offence".
Common pairings
take offense
no offense
a criminal offense
go on the offense
Word Forms
offenses plural
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Speeding is a minor traffic _____ in most states.
Etymology
From Old French offense, from Latin offensa, "a striking against" — from the same root as offend.