adj
offensive
uh-FEHN-sihv
adj
1
Causing anger, disgust, or hurt feelings.
"Some found the comedian's jokes deeply offensive."
"The advert was pulled after complaints that it was offensive."
2
Relating to attacking, or to a team's effort to score, rather than defending.
"The general planned an offensive strike at dawn."
noun
1
A military attack, or a sustained effort to achieve something.
"The army launched a major offensive along the northern border."
"The company began a marketing offensive to win back customers."
How to Use Offensive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither upsetting/insulting, or related to attacking rather than defending.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
offensive language
go on the offensive
a military offensive
Word Forms
more offensive comparative, offensives plural, most offensive superlative
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Etymology
From French offensif, built on the same root as "offend", shaped to pair with its opposite, "defensive".