# offense

/əˈfɛns/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/offense
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a crime or broken rule

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a crime or an act that breaks a law or a rule.

For teachers: a breach of a law, rule, or social code; a transgression or illegal act.

- Driving too fast is a serious offense that can lead to a large fine.
- The defendant was charged with a first-time offense, which the judge took into consideration when determining the final sentence.

Usage: Often used with 'first', 'minor', or 'serious'.

### 2. feeling upset or insulted

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

the feeling of being upset, hurt, or annoyed by something someone says or does.

For teachers: the state of being insulted or displeased; a subjective feeling of resentment or anger.

- I hope you didn't take offense at my joke; I was only kidding.
- The diplomat took great offense at the suggestion that his country had acted in bad faith during the negotiations.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrases 'take offense' or 'give offense'.

### 3. sports team or strategy

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

the part of a team that tries to score points, or the plan they use to do it.

For teachers: the team, players, or tactical strategy focused on scoring points or goals in a game.

- The team has a very strong offense this year and scores many goals.
- The coach decided to switch to a more aggressive offense in the second half to overcome the opponent's lead.

Teaching tip: In British English, this sense is usually called the 'attack'.

## Examples

- The team has a very strong offense this year.
- The coach decided to change the offense to focus on faster passing and more frequent shots.
- Despite having a legendary defense, the team struggled throughout the season because their offense failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities in the final minutes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.