What does offense mean?
Offense is chiefly an American-spelled noun for an illegal act, wrongdoing, or breach of a rule. Its meanings range from the formal legal sense of a criminal violation to a more general act of harm and, in another common usage, an insult or affront that causes someone to take offense. In American football, a team's offense is its attacking unit or method of play, with defense naming the opposing role. The word is usually formal and neutral in legal or public-affairs contexts, while its meaning involving an insult can sound more conversational or personal. British and Canadian English generally use the spelling offence for the same word. Although a rare verb meaning “to offend” is recorded, ordinary modern usage prefers offend. As a legal term, offense is broad, while the related word crime more specifically denotes an act prohibited and punishable by law.
An illegal act, wrongdoing, or breach of a law or rule; also an insult or affront, or the attacking side or play in American football.
"The defendant denied committing any offense during the investigation."
The legal and sporting senses are now common, while the older general sense of a harmful or hostile act survives mainly in formal language.
To give offense to; to affront.
"The speaker offended the committee with his inflammatory remarks."
Rare and literary; the usual modern verb is offend.
The standard plural of the American-spelled noun offense.
"The report documented several distinct offenses under the revised regulations."
Latin offensa meant “harm, damage, or attack,” so offense began with a considerably heavier meaning than the modern legal noun suggests.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of offense
The word entered Middle English from Anglo-French offense and ultimately from Latin offensa, “harm or damage,” the feminine past participle of offendere, “to strike against.” Its meanings developed from an act of hostility or harm toward a person to a violation of law and later to an insult that causes annoyance or indignation. The American spelling offense reflects its later divergence from British and Canadian offence.
Related word forms
How offense is actually used
The legal sense is formal and generally neutral, whereas the sense meaning an insult or affront is more personal and emotional. In American football, offense refers to the attacking side or its play. The verb meaning “to offend” is rare and literary; ordinary modern usage prefers offend.
Easily confused with offense
Offence is the British and Canadian spelling of the same word; the meanings do not change, only the spelling does.