offensive

The word “offensive” means causing anger, disgust, or hurt feelings. In plain terms, either upsetting/insulting, or related to attacking rather than defending.

“Offensive” is pronounced uh-FEHN-sihv (/ˈɔˌfɛnsɪv/ in IPA).

Here is “offensive” used in a sentence: “Some found the comedian's jokes deeply offensive.”

Words with a similar meaning to “offensive” include aggressive, invidious and unheard-of.

Depending on how it is used, “offensive” can be an adjective and a noun.

The word “offensive” comes from French. From French offensif, built on the same root as "offend", shaped to pair with its opposite, "defensive".

“Offensive” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Offensive” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: causing anger, disgust, or hurt feelings.

Offensive relates to attacking or to causing offence, while defensive relates to protecting or guarding against attack. In sport or the military, an offensive move pushes forward to gain ground, whereas a defensive one holds back to protect. In everyday use, offensive usually means hurtful or insulting.

Not always. When it describes speech or behaviour that causes anger or hurt, it is clearly negative. But in sport, business, and the military, 'offensive' is neutral or even positive, describing an attacking strategy, as in 'the team went on the offensive.' Context decides the tone.

When offensive means hurtful or insulting, its opposites are inoffensive, pleasant, polite, or agreeable. When it refers to attacking, the opposite is defensive. Choosing the right antonym depends entirely on which sense of the word you mean, since offensive works in both social and combative contexts.