offshore

1 of 3

adverb

off·​shore ˈȯf-ˈshȯr 

1

: from the shore : seaward

also : at a distance from the shore

anchored about a mile offshore

2

: outside the country : abroad

banking offshore

offshore

2 of 3

adjective

off·​shore ˈȯf-ˌshȯr 

1

: coming or moving away from the shore toward the water

an offshore breeze

2

a

: situated off the shore but within waters under a country's control

offshore fisheries

b

: distant from the shore compare inshore

3

: situated or operating in a foreign country

offshore mutual funds

offshore banking

offshore

3 of 3

preposition

off·​shore ˈȯf-ˌshȯr 

: off the shore of

Synonyms of offshore

Adjective

• coastal

Examples of offshore in a Sentence

Adjective

We sailed to an offshore island.

He works on an offshore oil rig.

They opened an offshore bank account.

He traced the money to an offshore investment company.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

The East Coast is forecast to remain clear since Hurricane Isaias has moved well offshore. — Jaimie Ding, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026

The eye of the storm was moving parallel to the coastline about 60 miles offshore, near the city of Manzanillo. — Adrian Florido, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Classes offered include coastal cruising and offshore sailing. — Michelle Richardson, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

In March 2024 Biden therefore announced that the United States would build a special offshore pier on the coast of Gaza to receive international aid, which would be shipped from Cyprus after being inspected by Israel. — Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026

Preposition

The Outer Continental Shelf offshore Maine is virgin water for wind. — Jeremy Beaman, Washington Examiner, 16 Jan. 2023

The storm began organizing Friday offshore the Carolinas when two disturbances along the jet stream merged over the Southeast. — Washington Post, 30 Jan. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1720, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

1942, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for offshore

• abhor
• abor
• adore
• afore
• ardour
• ashore
• backdoor
• before
• bookstore
• candour
• centaur
• claymore

Kids Definition

offshore

1 of 2 adverb

off·​shore ˈȯf-ˈshō(ə)r 

-ˈshȯ(ə)r

: from the shore : at a distance from the shore

offshore

2 of 2 adjective

off·​shore ˈȯf-ˌshō(ə)r 

-ˌshȯ(ə)r

1

: coming or moving away from the shore

an offshore breeze

2

: located off the shore

offshore islands

an offshore oil rig