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ReadingWillow structured literacy program for Australian students

Dictionary Entry

offense

noun

Find the meaning of the word offense, plus dictionary definition, pronunciation, thesaurus-style synonyms, antonyms, and related vocabulary.

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Meaning

Dictionary meaning in a clear, student-friendly format.

An act that causes anger, hurt feelings, or a violation of a rule or law. It can also refer to the attacking side in a sport, aiming to score points.

Example Sentence

Taking offense at a casual remark can sometimes lead to unnecessary arguments.

Usage Note

Offense is used to describe an action that upsets someone, breaks a rule, or is illegal. In sports, it refers to the team or players trying to score. You might hear "no offense" when someone wants to soften a potentially critical remark, indicating no disrespect is intended.