Entry Word: offense

Function: noun

Meaning:

or offence

1 a breaking of a moral or legal code <wartime offenses that are crimes against all of humanity>

Synonyms breach, crime, debt, error, lawbreaking, malefaction, misdeed, misdoing, sin, transgression, trespass, violation, wrongdoing

Related Words felony, misdemeanor; fault, foible, peccadillo; break, infringement; immorality, iniquity, sinfulness, vice, wickedness; criminality, illegality, lawlessness, unlawfulness

Near Antonyms blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness, innocence; goodness, morality, righteousness, virtue, virtuousness

2 the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <combat casualties grew enormously as the weapons of offense became far more technologically advanced than defensive armor> — see attack 1
3 an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <a diplomat never deliberately gives offense> — see insult
4 the feeling of being offended or resentful after a slight or indignity <my mother was prone to take offense even at the most innocent remark> — see pique