offensive

1 of 2

adjective

of·​fen·​sive ə-ˈfen(t)-siv How to pronounce offensive (audio)
especially for sense 1
ˈä-ˌfen(t)- How to pronounce offensive (audio)
ˈȯ-
1
a
: making attack : aggressive
The bear made offensive movements.
b
: of, relating to, or designed for attack
offensive weapons
c
: of or relating to an attempt to score in a game or contest
offensive maneuvers
also : of or relating to a team in possession of the ball or puck
offensive linemen
2
: giving painful or unpleasant sensations : nauseous, obnoxious
an offensive odor
3
: causing displeasure or resentment
offensive remarks
offensively adverb
offensiveness noun

offensive

2 of 2

noun

1
: the act of an attacking party
2
: attack

Examples of offensive in a Sentence

Adjective He made some offensive remarks. An offensive odor was coming from the basement. Noun the primary offensive by the ground forces will commence at dawn tomorrow
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Nothing seems off limits when Walt takes an offensive stage name featuring the N-word (which becomes a significant part of the plot). Stephen Saito, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 Half full: Tatis, Manny Machado and Bogaerts give the Padres three rock-solid offensive pieces. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 As an offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach for the Texans in 2022, White worked with Davis Mills, Kyle Allen and Jeff Driskel. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Further south, in Rafah, Palestinians say they are terrified by the threat of a potentially bloody Israeli ground offensive in the city – where most civilians have been forced to flee from bombardment. Sana Noor Haq, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 Complementing their offensive and defensive lines with a veteran might be paramount in this spring’s shopping season, all due respect to needs at cornerback, wide receiver, linebacker and tight end. Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2024 The Indians got another steal, but this time Court Gaylor missed the open, potential game-winning layup; his teammates had his back, drawing an offensive foul to keep the game tied. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024 If Russia were to expand the scope of its offensive operations through 2024 and 2025, its pipeline of volunteers would be insufficient on its own, and the country would likely need more rounds of mobilization. Dara Massicot, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2024 The Heat grabbed just two offensive rebounds on Thursday. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
Netanyahu has faced fierce criticism within Israel for his government’s failure to predict or forestall the October 7 Hamas attack, and public polling suggests many Israelis question whether his crushing military offensive in response is the best way to recover hostages. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 Since Israeli forces launched an offensive in Gaza following Hamas' surprise attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7 that killed at least 1,300 people, more than 31,000 Palestinians have died – 70% of them women and children – according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024 On February 27, 2022, just three days into the offensive, a Russian convoy advanced toward Enerhodar. Nataliya Gumenyuk, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, Russian’s offensive this year has been been sustained by the Kremlin’s purchase, from North Korea, of around 400,000 shells a month for four months in a row starting in September. David Axe, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Such an offensive would be devastating for the civilian population and would disrupt relief efforts across Gaza’s south. Hardin Lang, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2024 The trip comes as Biden goes on the offensive, trying to turn the tables on an issue that has been a liability for him. Franco Ordoñez, NPR, 29 Feb. 2024 According to the Israeli military, 576 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the attack — 237 of them since the ground offensive began on Oct. 27. Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024 Israel's air and ground offensive has driven around 80% of Gaza's population from their homes, putting hundreds of thousands at risk of starvation and the spread of disease. Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'offensive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French offensif, borrowed from Medieval Latin offensīvus "used for attacking, causing injury," from Latin offensus, past participle of offendere "to strike against, break a rule, offend" + -īvus -ive

Noun

derivative of offensive entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1564, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1687, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of offensive was circa 1564

Dictionary Entries Near offensive

Cite this Entry

“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offensive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

offensive

1 of 2 adjective
of·​fen·​sive ə-ˈfen(t)-siv How to pronounce offensive (audio)
1
a
: relating to or made or suited for attack
offensive weapons
b
: of or relating to the attempt to score in a game or contest
the offensive team
2
: causing painful or unpleasant sensations
an offensive smell
3
: causing displeasure or resentment
an offensive remark
offensively adverb
offensiveness noun

offensive

2 of 2 noun
1
: the state or attitude of one who is making an attack
on the offensive
2

Legal Definition

offensive

adjective
of·​fen·​sive ə-ˈfen-siv How to pronounce offensive (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or designed for attack
offensive weapons
2
: causing displeasure or resentment
especially : contrary to a particular or prevailing sense of what is decent, proper, or moral
depicted sexual acts in a patently offensive way
see also obscene
offensively adverb
offensiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on offensive

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