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. Laura Ziskin:

   I ’m begging you, please. It’s too offensive. You have to take it out.

2. Michael Oher:

   Offensive linemen don’t get looked at, nobody is paying attention to the offensive line. But me ? I ’m getting watched for everything. I know what type of player I am. Everybody else that I know knows what type of player I am. So that kind of stuff does n’t worry me.

3. Brett McGurk:

   ISIL's offensive has been halted, its ability to mass and maneuver forces degraded, its leadership cells pressured or eliminated.

4. Monday ESPN:

   Auction drafts are a common part of fantasy football, and ESPN's segments replicated an auction draft with a diverse slate of top professional football players. Without that context, we understand the optics could be portrayed as offensive, and we apologize.

5. Cornell William Brooks:

   In respect to the song being sung for a black player does not make it any less offensive to black people, that does not mitigate the insult and injury at all, the fact that this may have been some kind of personal celebration does not in any way speak that it is politically insulting.

Images & Illustrations of offensive

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