offensive

1 of 2

adjective

of·​fen·​sive ə-ˈfen(t)-siv 

especially for sense 1

ˈä-ˌfen(t)- 

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

Synonyms

Adjective

• disgusting
• ugly
• awful
• horrible
• sickening
• obscene
• shocking
• hideous
• obnoxious
• dreadful
• nasty

Noun

• attack
• raid
• offense
• assault
• onslaught
• strike
• attempt

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

And a new-look left side of the KC offensive line takes the field in a regular-season game for the first time on Friday. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2025

Lopez threw for 18 touchdowns and ran for seven at South Alabama, but Belichick and offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens were hesitant to use Lopez as a runner. —David Ubben, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025

Noun

The latest attack comes as Israel mounts a fresh offensive into Gaza City. —Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025

All the while, Russia is intensifying its battlefield offensive. —Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025

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

Phrases Containing offensive

• on the offensive
• take the offensive
• went on the offensive

Rhymes for offensive

• defensive
• expensive
• extensive
• intensive
• ostensive
• prehensive
• suspensive
• antihypertensive
• apprehensive
• coextensive
• comprehensive
• hypertensive

Kids Definition

offensive

1 of 2 adjective

of·​fen·​sive ə-ˈfen(t)-siv 

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

: attack entry 2 sense 1

Legal Definition

offensive

adjective

of·​fen·​sive ə-ˈfen-siv 

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