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adj B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

offshore

of-SHAW

Offshore (adj) means located in the sea some distance from the coast. Example: “The company operates several offshore oil rigs.”

adj
1
Located in the sea some distance from the coast.
"The company operates several offshore oil rigs."
2
Based in another country, often to take advantage of lower taxes or costs.
"He was accused of hiding money in offshore accounts."
"The firm moved its manufacturing offshore to cut labor costs."

How to Use Offshore

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAway from the coast at sea, or (figuratively) based abroad, often for tax or cost reasons.

Common pairings
offshore account offshore drilling move production offshore

Word Forms

offshored past tense, offshores plural, offshores singular

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The company operates several _____ oil rigs.

Etymology

From off plus shore.

Related Words

Rhymes for offshore

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “offshore” mean?

The word “offshore” means located in the sea some distance from the coast. In plain terms, away from the coast at sea, or (figuratively) based abroad, often for tax or cost reasons.

How do you pronounce “offshore”?

“Offshore” is pronounced of-SHAW (/ɒfˈʃɔː(ɹ)/ in IPA).

How do you use “offshore” in a sentence?

Here is “offshore” used in a sentence: “The company operates several offshore oil rigs.”

What part of speech is “offshore”?

“Offshore” is an adjective.

Is “offshore” a common word?

“Offshore” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “offshore” have?

“Offshore” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: located in the sea some distance from the coast.

What is the difference between offshore and onshore?

"Offshore" means located in the sea away from the coast, or based in another country. "Onshore" means located on land or based within the home country. For example, offshore wind farms sit out at sea, while onshore ones stand on land.

What is the difference between offshore and overseas?

"Overseas" simply means abroad, in or from another country across the sea. "Offshore" can mean the same, but it often carries the extra sense of being located at sea, or of being based abroad specifically to gain lower taxes or costs. Offshore is the more specialised term.

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