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

Russia, another major source of fuel, has been knocked offline by another war, the conflict with Ukraine. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026

The Iran conflict and Russia's war on Ukraine are also contributing to higher diesel prices as a chunk of global refining capacity is now offline. — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026

The theater’s digital system sat offline for so long that its encryption key expired, meaning the Bruin will need a new digital cinema server. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026

In a recent interview with local media, Ding Xia, managing director of Sephora Greater China, said the retailer’s offline business has maintained double-digit growth in terms of store traffic for 21 consecutive months. — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 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