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

Policies may be issued domestically or offshore, depending on the UHNW family’s circumstances. — Michael Gold Cfp, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Kenyan law restricts trawlers to waters at least 5 nautical miles (9 kilometers) offshore, but fishers say some vessels routinely operate much closer. — ABC News, 6 July 2026

Adjective

The Castro family has been linked, through GAESA chiefly, to a lucrative world of hotels, banks, retail monopolies, foreign-currency businesses, foreign private compounds and offshore accounts. — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026

While no announcement has been made regarding the future of the remaining offshore compliance programs, the overall direction appears increasingly clear. — Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 2 July 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