offshore

1 of 3

adverb

off·​shore ˈȯf-ˈshȯr How to pronounce offshore (audio)
1
: from the shore : seaward
also : at a distance from the shore
2
: outside the country : abroad

offshore

2 of 3

adjective

off·​shore ˈȯf-ˌshȯr How to pronounce offshore (audio)
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 How to pronounce offshore (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of offshore was in 1720

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Offshore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offshore. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

offshore

1 of 2 adverb
off·​shore ˈȯf-ˈshō(ə)r How to pronounce offshore (audio)
-ˈshȯ(ə)r
: from the shore : at a distance from the shore

offshore

2 of 2 adjective
off·​shore ˈȯf-ˌshō(ə)r How to pronounce offshore (audio)
-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

More from Merriam-Webster on offshore

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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