offense Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others
    offensive activity; discourtesy; offence.
  2. noun a feeling of anger caused by being offended
    umbrage; offence.
    • he took offence at my question
  3. noun (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
    offence; criminal offense; crime; law-breaking; criminal offence.
    • a long record of crimes
  4. noun the team that has the ball (or puck) and is trying to score
    offence.
  5. noun the action of attacking an enemy
    offensive; offence.

WordNet


Of*fense", Of*fence" noun (Also<
  • Offense
  • Offence
)
Etymology
F., fr. L. offensa. See Offend.
Definitions
  1. The act of offending in any sense; esp., a crime or a sin, an affront or an injury.
    Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Rom. iv. 25.
    I have given my opinion against the authority of two great men, but I hope without offense to their memories. Dryden.
  2. The state of being offended or displeased; anger; displeasure.
    He was content to give them just cause of offense, when they had power to make just revenge. Sir P. Sidney.
  3. A cause or occasion of stumbling or of sin. Obs.
    Woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! Matt. xviii. 7.
    ✍ This word, like expense, is often spelled with a c. It ought, however, to undergo the same change with expense, the reasons being the same, namely, that s must be used in offensive as in expensive, and is found in the Latin offensio, and the French offense. Syn. -- Displeasure; umbrage; resentment; misdeed; misdemeanor; trespass; transgression; delinquency; fault; sin; crime; affront; indignity; outrage; insult.

Webster 1913