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
Daniel Peck, ABC News, 30 Nov. 2025
Just offshore is the much smaller island of Campeche, famous for its crystal-clear turquoise waters and pearly white sand.
—Carla Vianna, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2025
Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2025
By 2030, the system could serve China’s major offshore wind farms, cover more than half of its key ports, and connect numerous coastal and riverside city clusters, offering faster, more flexible transportation across land and water.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 23 Nov. 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 changing climate is also amplifying the indirect effects of tropical systems that remain well offshore, making coastal areas more vulnerable.
—Daniel Peck, ABC News, 30 Nov. 2025
Just offshore is the much smaller island of Campeche, famous for its crystal-clear turquoise waters and pearly white sand.
—Carla Vianna, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2025
Adjective
The offshore winds could drop the relative humidity into the high teens and low 20s, especially on Wednesday.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2025
By 2030, the system could serve China’s major offshore wind farms, cover more than half of its key ports, and connect numerous coastal and riverside city clusters, offering faster, more flexible transportation across land and water.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 23 Nov. 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 2 Dec. 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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