Offense | Definition of offense by Merriam-Webster

Full Definition of OFFENSE

1

a obsolete : an act of stumbling

b archaic : a cause or occasion of sin : stumbling block

2

: something that outrages the moral or physical senses

3

a : the act of attacking : assault

b : the means or method of attacking or of attempting to score

c : the offensive team or members of a team playing offensive positions

d : scoring ability

4

a : the act of displeasing or affronting

b : the state of being insulted or morally outraged <takes offense at the slightest criticism>

5

a : a breach of a moral or social code : sin, misdeed

b : an infraction of law; especially : misdemeanor

— of·fense·less \-ləs\ adjective

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Variants of OFFENSE

of·fense or of·fence \ə-ˈfen(t)s, especially for 3 ˈä-ˌfen(t)s, ˈȯ-\

Origin of OFFENSE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin offensa, from feminine of offensus, past participle of offendere

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to OFFENSE

Synonyms: breach, crime, debt, error, lawbreaking, malefaction, misdeed, misdoing, sin, transgression, trespass, violation, wrongdoing

Antonyms: noncrime

Synonym Discussion of OFFENSE

offense, resentment, umbrage, pique, dudgeon, huff mean an emotional response to or an emotional state resulting from a slight or indignity. offense implies hurt displeasure <takes deep offense at racial slurs>. resentment suggests lasting indignation or ill will <harbored a lifelong resentment of his brother>. umbrage may suggest hurt pride, resentment, or suspicion of another's motives <took umbrage at the offer of advice>. pique applies to a transient feeling of wounded vanity <in a pique I foolishly declined the invitation>. dudgeon suggests an angry fit of indignation <stormed out of the meeting in high dudgeon>. huff implies a peevish short-lived spell of anger usually at a petty cause <in a huff he slammed the door>.offense, sin, vice, crime, scandal mean a transgression of law. offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code <at that school no offense went unpunished>. sin implies an offense against moral or religious law <the sin of blasphemy>. vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts <regarded gambling as a vice>. crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state <the crime of murder>. scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience <a career ruined by a sex scandal>.