English Reference
adjective · noun

offending

adj. · n.
US /əˈfɛndɪŋ/ UK /əfˈɛndɪŋ/ of·fend·ing

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.responsible for a problem or an unpleasant situation.

    adj.identifying the specific person or thing responsible for a violation, nuisance, or error.

    Simple

    The plumber finally found the offending pipe that was leaking water.

    In context

    Once the technician removed the offending line of code, the entire software system began to function normally again.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced FormalTechnical Law

    n.the act of breaking the law or doing something wrong.

    n.the act of committing a crime or a social offence; often used in legal or sociological contexts.

    Simple

    The government is trying to find ways to reduce youth offending in the city.

    In context

    Research suggests that early intervention programmes are significantly more effective at reducing re-offending than traditional punitive measures alone.

    Usage

    Often used as an uncountable noun or as part of a compound like 're-offending'.

It was the third time he had been given a prison sentence for offending that dated back to 2015.

BBC News· 9 Sept 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated