offensive
uh-FEHN-sihv
Offensive (adj) means causing anger, disgust, or hurt feelings. Example: “Some found the comedian's jokes deeply offensive.”
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."
"I found his remarks so offensive that I left the room."
2
Relating to attacking, or to a team's effort to score, rather than defending.
"The team's offensive play improved once the new coach arrived."
"Our offensive tactics focused on scoring early in the match."
"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."
"The charity launched a charm offensive to win over the local residents."
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
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Word forms
- Plural
- offensives
- Comparative
- more offensive
- Superlative
- most offensive
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Some found the comedian's jokes deeply _____.
Etymology
From French offensif, built on the same root as "offend", shaped to pair with its opposite, "defensive".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
defensive
inoffensive
Related words
Rhymes for offensive
See all rhymes for offensive →Frequently asked questions
What does “offensive” mean?
The word “offensive” means causing anger, disgust, or hurt feelings. In plain terms, either upsetting/insulting, or related to attacking rather than defending.
How do you pronounce “offensive”?
“Offensive” is pronounced uh-FEHN-sihv (/ˈɔˌfɛnsɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “offensive” in a sentence?
Here is “offensive” used in a sentence: “Some found the comedian's jokes deeply offensive.”
What is another word for “offensive”?
Words with a similar meaning to “offensive” include aggressive, invidious and unheard-of.
What part of speech is “offensive”?
Depending on how it is used, “offensive” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “offensive” come from?
The word “offensive” comes from French. From French offensif, built on the same root as "offend", shaped to pair with its opposite, "defensive".
Is “offensive” a common word?
“Offensive” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “offensive” have?
“Offensive” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: causing anger, disgust, or hurt feelings.
What is the difference between offensive and defensive?
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.
Is offensive always a negative word?
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.
What is the opposite of offensive?
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.
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