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
off·shore
ˈȯf-ˌshȯr 
: off the shore of
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
Alice Herman, Miami Herald, 20 May 2025
The massive undersea volcano reaches more than 3,600 feet above the seabed is located 300 miles offshore.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 17 May 2025
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025
The president issued an executive order on his first day in office that barred new leases for offshore wind in U.S. waters and ordered a review of leasing and permitting practices.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 20 May 2025
Jeremy Beaman, Washington Examiner, 16 Jan. 2023
Bubbles emerge from a methane seep offshore Virginia.
—Jeffrey Marlow, Discover Magazine, 7 June 2016
See All Example Sentences for offshore
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Adverb
Over time, Congress expanded its mission — charging the agency with protecting endangered marine species, extending its reach 200 miles offshore and setting up regional councils to work with NOAA to cap catches based on scientific research.
—Alice Herman, Miami Herald, 20 May 2025
The massive undersea volcano reaches more than 3,600 feet above the seabed is located 300 miles offshore.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 17 May 2025
Adjective
Cheers all around for Gov. Hochul and Mayor Adams and many others who successfully persuaded President Trump to have the federal government lift its stop-work order on Empire Wind 1, an offshore wind project which will create 1,500 good jobs and clean energy for a half million homes.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025
The president issued an executive order on his first day in office that barred new leases for offshore wind in U.S. waters and ordered a review of leasing and permitting practices.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 20 May 2025
Preposition
The Outer Continental Shelf offshore Maine is virgin water for wind.
—Jeremy Beaman, Washington Examiner, 16 Jan. 2023
Bubbles emerge from a methane seep offshore Virginia.
—Jeffrey Marlow, Discover Magazine, 7 June 2016
See All Example Sentences for offshore
Cite this Entry
“Offshore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offshore. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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