1. An act that breaks a law or violates accepted standards
   "It is an offence to steal"; "His remarks were an offence to common decency";
   - offense [US]
    
2. A lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings of others
   "His offence at the dinner party shocked everyone";
   - discourtesy, offense [US], offensive activity
    
3. A feeling of anger caused by being offended
   "he took offence at my question";
   - umbrage, offense [US]
    
4. An attacking strategy or action, especially in sports or military operations
   "The army launched an offence at dawn";
   - offense [US], offensive
    
5. The team that has the ball (or puck) and is trying to score
   "The offence struggled to break through the opponent's strong defence";
   - offense [US]

Derived forms: offences

Type of: anger, behavior [US], behaviour [Brit, Cdn], choler, conduct, doings, evildoing, ire, military operation, op [informal], operation, squad, team, transgression

Antonym: defending team

Encyclopedia: Offence