offence
Offence (noun) means British spelling of "offense" — a crime or breach of the law, or a feeling of being hurt or insulted. Example: “Parking on a double yellow line is an offence in most towns.”
noun
1
British spelling of "offense" — a crime or breach of the law, or a feeling of being hurt or insulted.
"Parking on a double yellow line is an offence in most towns."
"He was charged with a minor motoring offence."
"No offence, but I think you're wrong about this."
How to use offence
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBritish spelling of "offense" — a crime, or hurt feelings.
UK vs US
British/Commonwealth spelling; American English writes this as "offense".
Easily confused with
Common pairings
take offence
no offence
a criminal offence
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Word forms
- Plural
- offences
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Parking on a double yellow line is an _____ in most towns.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for offence
See all rhymes for offence →Frequently asked questions
What does “offence” mean?
The word “offence” means british spelling of "offense" — a crime or breach of the law, or a feeling of being hurt or insulted. In plain terms, british spelling of "offense" — a crime, or hurt feelings.
How do you use “offence” in a sentence?
Here is “offence” used in a sentence: “He was charged with a minor motoring offence.”
What part of speech is “offence”?
“Offence” is a noun.
Is “offence” a common word?
“Offence” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between "offence" and "offense"?
They are the same word with different spellings: "offence" is the standard British spelling, while "offense" is the American spelling. Both mean a crime or breach of the law, or a feeling of being hurt or insulted, so the choice depends on which variety of English you are writing in.
When should you use "offence" with a "c"?
Use "offence" with a "c" when writing in British English, which is also standard in most Commonwealth countries such as the UK, Australia, and Ireland. American English uses "offense" with an "s" instead.
Does "offence" mean a crime or a hurt feeling?
"Offence" can mean both, depending on context. It refers either to a breach of the law, as in a criminal offence, or to the feeling of being hurt or insulted, as in "she took offence at the joke."
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