of·fen·sive
ə-ˈfen(t)-siv 
especially for sense 1
ˈä-ˌfen(t)-
ˈȯ-
1
a
: making attack : aggressive
The bear made offensive movements.
b
: of, relating to, or designed for attack
offensive weapons
c
: of or relating to an attempt to score in a game or contest
offensive maneuvers
also
: of or relating to a team in possession of the ball or puck
offensive linemen
3
: causing displeasure or resentment
offensive remarks
offensively
adverb
offensiveness
noun
Examples of offensive in a Sentence
Adjective
He made some offensive remarks.
An offensive odor was coming from the basement.
Noun
the primary offensive by the ground forces will commence at dawn tomorrow
Recent Examples on the Web
Mike Jones, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
The interior offensive line was a massive need for the Dolphins, and Savaiinaea has the potential to be an elite guard.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Next, the Bears traded down from No. 41 — the ninth pick in the round — in a deal with the Buffalo Bills that netted them two late-second-round picks (Nos. 56 and 62), which turned into Boston College offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo and Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
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Adjective
One night after making a move to shore up their offensive line, the Kansas City Chiefs turned their attention to the other side of the ball and drafted Tennessee defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott with the 31st pick of the second round Friday night.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
The interior offensive line was a massive need for the Dolphins, and Savaiinaea has the potential to be an elite guard.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
Israel’s offensive has killed more than 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t say how many of the dead were fighters or civilians.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Next, the Bears traded down from No. 41 — the ninth pick in the round — in a deal with the Buffalo Bills that netted them two late-second-round picks (Nos. 56 and 62), which turned into Boston College offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo and Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offensive. Accessed 8 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
offensive
1 of 2 adjective
of·fen·sive
ə-ˈfen(t)-siv
1
a
: relating to or made or suited for attack
offensive weapons
b
: of or relating to the attempt to score in a game or contest
the offensive team
2
: causing painful or unpleasant sensations
an offensive smell
3
: causing displeasure or resentment
an offensive remark
offensively
adverb
offensiveness
noun
offensive
2 of 2 noun1
: the state or attitude of one who is making an attack
on the offensive
Legal Definition
offensive
adjective
of·fen·sive
ə-ˈfen-siv
1
: of, relating to, or designed for attack
offensive weapons
2
: causing displeasure or resentment
especially
: contrary to a particular or prevailing sense of what is decent, proper, or moral
depicted sexual acts in a patently offensive way
see also obscene
offensively
adverb
offensiveness
noun
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