offense Meaning, Definition & Usage
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noun a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others
offensive activity; discourtesy; offence.
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noun a feeling of anger caused by being offended
umbrage; offence.
- he took offence at my question
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noun (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
offence; criminal offense; crime; law-breaking; criminal offence.
- a long record of crimes
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noun the team that has the ball (or puck) and is trying to score
offence.
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noun the action of attacking an enemy
offensive; offence.
WordNet
Of*fense", Of*fence" noun
(Also<
- Offense
- Offence
)
Etymology
F., fr. L.Definitions
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The act of offending in any sense; esp., a crime or a sin, an affront or an injury. Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Rom. iv. 25.
I have given my opinion against the authority of two great men, but I hope without offense to their memories. Dryden.
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The state of being offended or displeased; anger; displeasure. He was content to give them just cause of offense, when they had power to make just revenge. Sir P. Sidney.
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A cause or occasion of stumbling or of sin. Obs.Woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! Matt. xviii. 7.
✍ This word, like expense, is often spelled with a c. It ought, however, to undergo the same change with expense, the reasons being the same, namely, that s must be used in offensive as in expensive, and is found in the Latin offensio, and the French offense. Syn. -- Displeasure; umbrage; resentment; misdeed; misdemeanor; trespass; transgression; delinquency; fault; sin; crime; affront; indignity; outrage; insult.