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
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
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
Mark Warren
off-line
adverb
Examples of offline in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Education is integrated with national job platforms and supported by more than 5,000 offline education hubs across the country, providing access for people without stable connectivity.
—Rachel Curry, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026
In the Apple Podcasts app, users will be able to switch between watching and listening to shows, as is the case on Spotify, potentially setting them up as a more direct competitor Users can watch video from within the app and move to horizontal full display and download videos to watch offline.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
As the weekend arrived, Kaiser Permanente San Diego reported that while its pharmacies in Escondido and Clairemont Mesa reopened on Thursday, locations in Rancho Bernardo, Carlsbad, Carmel Valley, Point Loma, Kearny Mesa and Rancho San Diego were still offline as of Friday afternoon.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
About 400 homes and businesses remained offline Saturday morning in North San Juan, just below New Bullards, as well as in Pike City.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 Feb. 2026
As temperatures plunged, demand for electricity soared while power plants — including natural gas, coal, nuclear and wind facilities — went offline.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 13 Feb. 2026
As a result, the information and interactions with Lightwall remain offline, on-site, personal, private and unique to the visitor and those in the room.
—Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026
Download offline maps before leaving I-15.
—Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
At least one database has gone offline.
—Asra Q. Nomani , Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Rachel Curry, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026
In the Apple Podcasts app, users will be able to switch between watching and listening to shows, as is the case on Spotify, potentially setting them up as a more direct competitor Users can watch video from within the app and move to horizontal full display and download videos to watch offline.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
As the weekend arrived, Kaiser Permanente San Diego reported that while its pharmacies in Escondido and Clairemont Mesa reopened on Thursday, locations in Rancho Bernardo, Carlsbad, Carmel Valley, Point Loma, Kearny Mesa and Rancho San Diego were still offline as of Friday afternoon.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
About 400 homes and businesses remained offline Saturday morning in North San Juan, just below New Bullards, as well as in Pike City.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 Feb. 2026
As temperatures plunged, demand for electricity soared while power plants — including natural gas, coal, nuclear and wind facilities — went offline.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 13 Feb. 2026
As a result, the information and interactions with Lightwall remain offline, on-site, personal, private and unique to the visitor and those in the room.
—Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026
Download offline maps before leaving I-15.
—Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
At least one database has gone offline.
—Asra Q. Nomani , Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offline. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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