English Explanatory Dictionary

offensive

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Causing offense; arousing a visceral reaction of disgust, anger, hatred, sadness, or indignation.
  2. Relating to an offense or attack, as opposed to defensive.
  3. Having to do with play directed at scoring.
noun
  1. An attack.
  2. The posture of attacking or being able to attack.

Pronunciation

/əˈfɛnsɪv/ en-us-offensive.ogg /əˈfɪ̟nsɪv/ /ˈɔˌfɛnsɪv/ /ˈɑˌfɛnsɪv/

Word forms

offensive more offensive most offensive offencive offensives

Etymology

From Middle French offensif, from offendre + -if by analogy with défensif. Offendre is from Latin offendere (“to offend”); see offend.

Synonyms

aggressive invidious unheard-of

Antonyms

inoffensive defensive

Related words

offend offense

Derived words

counteroffensive cyberoffensive inoffensive nonoffensive non-offensive offensive and defensive alliance offensive back offensive foul offensive guard offensive line offensive line of scrimmage offensively offensiveness offensive tackle offensive to pious ears offensive zone overoffensive superoffensive unoffensive counter-offensive charm offensive prawn cocktail offensive take the offensive
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