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
Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
Bean Point’s unusual position at the meeting place of two large water bodies, as well as its proximity to a deep shipping channel several miles offshore, are both thought to contribute to dangerous currents in the area.
—Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Wind giant Ørsted sues White House Energy giant Ørsted and two US states sued the White House over its obstruction of a near-complete offshore wind farm, part of the administration’s move away from renewables.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for offshore
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Adverb
The 57-year-old was attacked while surfing about 100 meters offshore, in the city’s second fatal shark incident since 1963.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
Bean Point’s unusual position at the meeting place of two large water bodies, as well as its proximity to a deep shipping channel several miles offshore, are both thought to contribute to dangerous currents in the area.
—Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Though not native to the Gulf of Mexico, the pythons have adapted, and will sometimes strangle an offshore drilling rig in their powerful coils.
—Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Wind giant Ørsted sues White House Energy giant Ørsted and two US states sued the White House over its obstruction of a near-complete offshore wind farm, part of the administration’s move away from renewables.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for offshore
Cite this Entry
“Offshore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offshore. Accessed 10 Sep. 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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