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

The catamaran design is intended to provide stability and seakeeping capabilities during extended operations offshore. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026

Moving money that is already offshore around is relatively easy, but getting capital out of mainland China has become increasingly difficult. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Adjective

The rich have been stung by a surprise 20% tax on their offshore wealth, much of it squirreled away in trusts in Hong Kong and Singapore, triggering a new rush for foreign passports. — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026

However, like many other coastal societies shaped by the migration and economics of Atlantic cod, Lofoten has been no stranger to ecosystem pressures over the decades, from shifting migration patterns to offshore fishing fleets. — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 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