offencenoun
US offense uk/əˈfens/us/əˈfens/offence noun (CRIME)
B2 [ C ] an illegal act; a crime:
a serious/minor offence
a criminal/drink-driving offence
Driving without a licence is an offence.
He committed several serious offences.
It's the third time that he's been convicted of a drug offence.
More examples
- The soldier received a dishonourable discharge for a disciplinary offence.
- It's an offence to park on double yellow lines.
- This was the defendant's third court appearance for the same offence.
- He has a long record of previous convictions for similar offences.
- She was yesterday bailed for three weeks on drink-driving offences.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Crime - general words
- carrying-on
- complicit
- complicity
- copycat
- crime
- drink-driving
- DWI
- foul play
- hate crime
- inside job
- juvenile delinquent
- loitering
- misdeed
- offense
- speeding
- trespass
- vagrant
- victimless
- war crime
- wrongdoing
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offence noun (UPSET FEELINGS)
B2 [ U ] upset and hurt or annoyed feelings, often because someone has been rude or shown no respect:
I really didn't mean (to cause/give) any offence (= did not intend to upset anyone) - I was just stating my opinion.
Do you think he took offence (= was upset) at what I said about his hair?
no offence (intended)
used when you say something that might upset or annoy someone :
No offence, but I find your sister a little rude.
If you don't mind, I'd rather go on my own - no offence intended, but I think it would be better.
More examples
- Sometimes taboo words are written with asterisks to avoid causing offence.
- She takes offence too easily.
- His remarks caused widespread offence.
- She took offence when I offered to pay.
- The last thing I want to do is cause offence to your mother.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making people sad, shocked and upset
- aback
- amiss
- appal
- be laughing on the other side of your face idiom
- bite
- burn
- haunt
- hit/touch a (raw) nerve idiom
- horrify
- hurt sb's feelings idiom
- hurtful
- laugh
- mess
- nose
- shake
- tear sb apart
- tear sb's heart out idiom
- torture
- traumatize
- twist/turn the knife (in the wound) idiom
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/ˈɑː.fens/[ U or C ] US the part of a game such as American football that involves trying to score points, or the players who try to score points
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Winning, losing & scoring in sport
- against the run of play idiom
- close-run
- do the double over sb idiom
- drubbing
- game changer
- game-changing
- give sth away
- hold
- lead 1
- pip
- pummel
- retire
- run away with sth
- sink
- square
- strike gold idiom
- varsity
- walkover
- win
- won
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Competitors & participants in sports & games
General terms used in ball sports
American football