offline

adjective

off·​line ˈȯf-ˈlīn 

variants or less commonly off-line

1

: not connected to or served by a system and especially a computer or telecommunications system

One of the servers is offline.

… we suggest you keep a backup of your digital assets in offline storage, too. This storage can provide some cushioning if your online investment disappears in an instant.

—The Denver (Colorado) Post

also : done or occurring independently of such a system

our online and offline lives

offline activities/events

Movies and shows can be downloaded via the app for offline viewing.

—Dan Auty

2

of a person : not available (as for communication) especially by way of the Internet

She was having computer trouble, she told him, and would be offline for a while.

—Mark Warren

off-line adverb

Examples of offline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the days before Lutnick’s previous decision to force the models offline, senior administration officials became increasingly concerned that users could circumvent Fable 5’s guardrails. — Jared Perlo, NBC news, 27 June 2026

So often kids lack offline hobbies that reinforce their sense of self, says Leah Jacobs, LMHC, founder and director at Digital Wellness Project. — Parents, 27 June 2026

Earlier in the week, another reactor at the Golfech plant on the Garonne River was also taken offline, while output was reduced at several additional sites across the country. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 June 2026

His throw was offline as the baseball rolled past catcher Salvador Perez. — Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026

Another advantage is offline access. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 25 June 2026

While an initial spike in fuel costs caused a temporary pullback in longer-distance shopping trips in March, the data shows that consumer driving habits quickly rebounded by April, signaling strong offline shopping intent rather than a permanent shift to online channels. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 June 2026

If a basic app like a calculator, scanner or notes tool stops working when offline, ask why. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

And now BookTok is helping bring those communities offline. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 22 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for offline

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• brucine
• byline

Kids Definition

offline

adjective

off·​line ˈȯ-ˈflīn 

1

: not connected to or controlled by a computer

an offline printer

2

: not available (as for communication) especially by way of the Internet

she was offline all day

off-line adverb