Definitions for offensive
əˈfɛn sɪv or, for 4,5 , ˈɔ fɛn-, ˈɒf ɛn-of·fen·sive

Princeton's WordNet(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. offense, offence, offensive(adj)

   the action of attacking an enemy

2. offensive, violative(adj)

   violating or tending to violate or offend against

   "violative of the principles of liberty"; "considered such depravity offensive against all laws of humanity"

3. offensive(adj)

   for the purpose of attack rather than defense

   "offensive weapons"

4. offensive(adj)

   causing anger or annoyance

   "offensive remarks"

5. unsavory, unsavoury, offensive(adj)

   morally offensive

   "an unsavory reputation"; "an unsavory scandal"

6. offensive(adj)

   unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses

   "offensive odors"

7. dysphemistic, offensive(adj)

   substitute a harsher or distasteful term for a mild one

   "`nigger' is a dysphemistic term for `African-American'"

8. nauseating, nauseous, noisome, queasy, loathsome, offensive, sickening, vile(adj)

   causing or able to cause nausea

   "a nauseating smell"; "nauseous offal"; "a sickening stench"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. offensive(Noun)

   An attack.

   The Marines today launched a major offensive.

   Etymology: From offensif, from as if *, from offendere, past participle offensus; see offend.

2. offensive(Noun)

   The posture of attacking or being able to attack.

   He took the offensive in the press, accusing his opponent of corruption.

   Etymology: From offensif, from as if *, from offendere, past participle offensus; see offend.

3. offensive(Adjective)

   Causing offense; arousing a visceral reaction of disgust, anger, or hatred

   Some feminists find pornography offensive.

   Etymology: From offensif, from as if *, from offendere, past participle offensus; see offend.

4. offensive(Adjective)

   Relating to an offense or attack, as opposed to defensive.

   The army's offensive capabilities. An offensive weapon.

   Etymology: From offensif, from as if *, from offendere, past participle offensus; see offend.

5. offensive(Adjective)

   Having to do with play directed at scoring.

   The offensive coordinator is responsible for ordering all rushing plays.

   Etymology: From offensif, from as if *, from offendere, past participle offensus; see offend.

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. offensive

   Used in attack; assailant; opposed to defensive; as, an offensive weapon or engine. Making the first attack; assailant; invading: opposed to defensive; as, an offensive war.

How to pronounce offensive?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say offensive in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of offensive in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of offensive in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of offensive in a Sentence

1. Alexandria Garieri:

   We want to sell engagement rings. We’re selling love, not hate, we were never wanting to be offensive, it was always meant to be satirical.

2. Bill Brewster:

   That they didn't have enough foresight to think this might happen is offensive to me.

3. Senators Diane Feinstein of California:

   It is entirely inappropriate that the railroad industry would make hostages of America's passenger rail services and chemical shippers in order to secure their favored legislative outcome, it is offensive that only when a railroad could face full liability for an accident that they find operation without PTC to be unacceptably dangerous.

4. Energy Minister Segolene Royal:

   France must be offensive on stopping pesticides, i have asked garden shops to stop sales of Monsanto's Roundup.

5. Wendy Auger:

   }I'm not a political activist, but this is a non-offensive thing that I've had and it's part of who we are as a family and who I am and there was zero reason for them to take it away.

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