Word
offensive
Phoneticsof·fen·sive, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈfɛnsɪv/
UK/əfˈɛnsɪv/
Definitions
01rude or upsetting
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. rude, insulting, or likely to make people feel angry or upset.
adj. causing resentment, indignation, or moral outrage; violating social or ethical standards of conduct.
“The comedian's jokes were so offensive that many people walked out of the show.”
“The editor removed several offensive passages from the manuscript to ensure the book complied with the publisher's sensitivity guidelines.”
Usage
Often used with 'to' when identifying the group affected, such as 'offensive to many people'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02attacking
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. used for or related to an attack rather than defending.
adj. relating to or designed for an attack; characterized by active aggression rather than resistance.
“The army used offensive weapons to break through the enemy's walls.”
“The general shifted the battalion into an offensive position, preparing for a coordinated strike against the fortified ridge.”
Usage
Commonly used in military and sports contexts as the opposite of 'defensive'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03a planned attack
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Law
n. a large, planned attack, especially in a war or a game.
n. a large-scale, planned military operation or a sustained campaign to achieve a specific goal.
Español:ofensiva
“The government launched a new offensive against the rebels in the mountains.”
“The spring offensive was designed to reclaim lost territory before the rainy season made the roads impassable for heavy vehicles.”
Usage
Often used with the verbs 'launch', 'start', or 'lead'.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “offensive” in context.
Verb
01. find the joke offensive
“Many viewers found the comedian's joke offensive and complained to the network.”
verb + noun + adj
02. launch an offensive
“The army decided to launch an offensive at dawn to reclaim the territory.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. deeply offensive
“The comments he made about her family were deeply offensive.”
adv + adj
04. offensive to most people
“Using that kind of language is offensive to most people in a professional setting.”
adj + prep + noun
Noun
05. charm offensive
“The politician went on a charm offensive to win over skeptical voters before the election.”
noun + noun
06. offensive weapon
“It is illegal to carry an offensive weapon in a public place.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“The war began with a US and Israel-led offensive on February 28.” “It’s also much too cartoonish to be in any way offensive.” Etymology
From Middle French offensif, from offendre + -if by analogy with défensif. Offendre is from Latin offendere (“to offend”); see offend.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Idioms
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/offensive
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0