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
That pressure is shaping behavior on and offline.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The closure of the strait has impacted 10% of global oil volumes and knocked offline 20% of global liquified natural gas (LNG) supplies, Simonelli said.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Social media can be a valuable lifeline to some of the most vulnerable young people, like those in abusive situations or those who often feel isolated offline, such as LGBTQ+ teens.
—Jennifer Huddleston, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
The pipeline, which carries Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary, went offline in late January after Ukrainian officials said it was damaged in a Russian attack.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
People who regularly use online news expect journalists to disclose more details about sources than offline users do.
—Florian Wintterlin, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
Others want to stay offline but struggle to stay on the wagon.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
The state's largest coal plant, Comanche 3, has been offline since last summer and isn't expected to be repaired until mid-July.
—Laura Phillips, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Below, Ferreira digs into her new projects, trying to stay offline and surrounding yourself with real people.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 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 Hale, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The closure of the strait has impacted 10% of global oil volumes and knocked offline 20% of global liquified natural gas (LNG) supplies, Simonelli said.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Social media can be a valuable lifeline to some of the most vulnerable young people, like those in abusive situations or those who often feel isolated offline, such as LGBTQ+ teens.
—Jennifer Huddleston, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
The pipeline, which carries Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary, went offline in late January after Ukrainian officials said it was damaged in a Russian attack.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
People who regularly use online news expect journalists to disclose more details about sources than offline users do.
—Florian Wintterlin, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
Others want to stay offline but struggle to stay on the wagon.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
The state's largest coal plant, Comanche 3, has been offline since last summer and isn't expected to be repaired until mid-July.
—Laura Phillips, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Below, Ferreira digs into her new projects, trying to stay offline and surrounding yourself with real people.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offline. Accessed 28 Apr. 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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