offshore
of-SHAW
Offshore (adj) means Located in the sea some distance from the coast. Example: “Wind turbines on the offshore wind farm are visible from the beach.”
adj
1
Located in the sea some distance from the coast.
"Wind turbines on the offshore wind farm are visible from the beach."
"Rescue boats were sent to an offshore platform after the alarm sounded."
"The company operates several offshore oil rigs."
2
Based in another country, often to take advantage of lower taxes or costs.
"Many large companies keep customer service centres offshore to reduce running 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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- offshores
- Third person singular
- offshores
- Past tense
- offshored
Fill the gap
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Wind turbines on the _____ wind farm are visible from the beach.
Etymology
From off plus shore.
Related words
Rhymes for offshore
See all rhymes for offshore →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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