offline

adjective

off·​line ˈȯf-ˈlīn 

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

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

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

off-line adverb

Examples of offline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Most companies end up using Excel and other offline workflows, which is an implicit admission that the standard solution does not work for many. —Steve Banker, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026

But his throw was slightly offline, enabling Cardinals second baseman Thomas Saggese to score. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026

The goal is to encourage mindfulness, reduce screen dependency and create more present, offline experiences. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026

One of the leading theories centers on opinion leaders, also known as influencers or connectors—that is, individuals who boast considerable expertise or interest in a particular product category and who are highly connected in a social sense, either offline or online. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026

Brands that successfully merge these functions will turn their real estate from a traditional overhead cost into a high-yield engine for online and offline growth. —Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 May 2026

The area’s security cameras, recently vandalized, were offline. —Dan Barry, New York Times, 12 May 2026

Her plan is to stay largely offline, lean on her castmates and resist the pull of whatever discourse follows the premiere. —Kennedy French, Variety, 12 May 2026

The powerhouse is expected to remain offline for years while repairs and restoration work continue, according to the agency. —Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 12 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for offline

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• brucine
• byline

Kids 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