What does offence mean?

Definitions for offence
of·fence

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word offence.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. offense, offence, offensivenoun

    the action of attacking an enemy

  2. offense, offencenoun

    the team that has the ball (or puck) and is trying to score

  3. umbrage, offense, offencenoun

    a feeling of anger caused by being offended

    "he took offence at my question"

  4. discourtesy, offense, offence, offensive activitynoun

    a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others

  5. crime, offense, criminal offense, criminal offence, offence, law-breakingnoun

    (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act

    "a long record of crimes"

GCIDE

  1. Offencenoun

    In any contest, the act or process of attacking as contrasted with the act of defending; the offensive; as, to go on the offense.

  2. Offencenoun

    (Sports) The members of a team who have the primary responsibility to score goals, in contrast to those who have the responsibility to defend, i.e. to prevent the opposing team from scoring goal.

Wiktionary

  1. offencenoun

    The act of offending; a crime or sin; an affront or injury.

  2. offencenoun

    The state of being offended or displeased; anger; displeasure.

  3. offencenoun

    A strategy and tactics employed when in position to score; contrasted with defence.

  4. offencenoun

    The portion of a team dedicated to scoring when in position to do so; contrasted with defence.

  5. Etymology: From offensa

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. OFFENCEnoun

    Etymology: offense, Fr. offensa, from offendo, Lat.

    Thither with speed their hasty course they ply’d,
    Where Christ the Lord for our offences dy’d. Edward Fairfax.

    Thou hast stol’n that, which after some few hours
    Were thine without offence. William Shakespeare, Henry IV.

    If, by the law of nature, every man hath not a power to punish offences against it, I see not how the magistrates of any community can punish an alien of another country. John Locke.

    I have given my opinion against the authority of two great men, but I hope without offence to their memories; for I loved them living, and reverence them dead. Dryden.

    Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed. 2 Cor. vi. 3.

    He remembered the injury of the children of Bean, who had been a snare and an offence unto the people. 1 Mac. iv.

    The pleasures of the touch are greater than those of the other senses; as in warming upon cold, or refrigeration upon heat: for as the pains of the touch are greater than the offences of other senses, so likewise are the pleasures. Francis Bacon.

    Earnest in every present humour, and making himself brave in his liking, he was content to give them just cause of offence when they had power to make just revenge. Philip Sidney.

    Courtesy that seemed incorporated in his heart, would not be persuaded to offer any offence, but only to stand upon the best defensive guard. Philip Sidney.

ChatGPT

  1. offence

    Offence is the act of breaking a law, rule, or code of conduct, or the violation of a set boundary. It can also refer to annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult or disregard for oneself or one's standards or principles.

Suggested Resources

  1. Offence

    Offence vs. Offense -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Offence and Offense.

  2. Offence

    Offense vs. Offence -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Offense and Offence.

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'offence' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2708

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'offence' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4654

  3. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'offence' in Nouns Frequency: #763

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

How to pronounce offence?

How to say offence in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of offence in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of offence in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of offence in a Sentence

  1. Judge Deborah Taylor:

    Whilst you may have had fears as to what may happen to you, nonetheless you had a choice, it is difficult to envisage a more serious example of this offence.

  2. Alessia Cara:

    I will not let everything I’ve worked for be diminished by people taking offence[sic] to my accomplishments and feeling the need to tell me how much I suck. here’s something fun! I’ve been thinking I suck since I was old enough to know what sucking meant. I’ve beat u to it. And that’s why this means a lot to me.

  3. Githu Muigai:

    Good defence leads to great offence

  4. Scott Morrison:

    He is a free citizen, he can say whatever he likes, but that doesn't mean he can't have regard to the grievous offence this would have caused to people whose homes have been burnt down.

  5. Justin Welby:

    I signed the wedding certificate, which is a legal document, and I would have committed a serious criminal offence if I signed it knowing it was false.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

offence#10000#10353#100000

Translations for offence

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

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"offence." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 14 Nov. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/offence>.

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    being essentially equal to something
    A unsealed
    B ultimo
    C occlusive
    D equivalent

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