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
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 5 Feb. 2026
Authorities said the person was approximately 100 yards offshore, suffered a leg injury and needed to be taken to shore on a gurney.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
Of course, some ideas may be too far afield for regulators to approve, which is why some of the stranger exotic bets, often related to something in the broadcast or in-stadium happenings, are only found on offshore sportsbooks.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
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
That skill was lost when production moved offshore in 2002.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 5 Feb. 2026
Authorities said the person was approximately 100 yards offshore, suffered a leg injury and needed to be taken to shore on a gurney.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Premier Tim Houston signed an agreement to strengthen collaboration between the two jurisdictions on offshore wind development in the North Atlantic as the region’s electrical grid has been powered by fossil fuels during the cold winter weather.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
Of course, some ideas may be too far afield for regulators to approve, which is why some of the stranger exotic bets, often related to something in the broadcast or in-stadium happenings, are only found on offshore sportsbooks.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 4 Feb. 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
See All Example Sentences for offshore
Cite this Entry
“Offshore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offshore. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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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