Etymologically
Log in

offense

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 12:32. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /əˈfɛns/[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English offens, offence, borrowed from Old French ofense (“offence, insult, wrong”) and directly borrowed from Latin offensa (“a striking against; an injury, affront”),[2][3][4][5] the noun use of the feminine past participle of offendere (“to strike against”) (see offend).[3][2] NODE adds Old French offens, misdeed, from Latin offensus, annoyance.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Hurt, harm or injury; a breach of the law or a sin; and the act of giving displeasure: the late 14th century in Etymonline,[3] probably 1350–75 in Barnhart.[2]

Semantic evolution

Displeasure or annoyance, as in take offence, is also from the late 14th century.[3] The action of attacking is from about 1400,[3] and in sport the attacking team or side, chiefly American, is by 1894.[3][6] The adjective offensive meant used for attack in 1547–64 and annoying or insulting from 1576.[2] Offense is the American spelling and offence the British.[7][8]

Timeline

  • 1350–75 – a wrong.[2]
  • late 14th century – harm; sin; displeasure.[3]
  • c. 1400 – attack.[3]
  • 1894 – in sport, the attacking side.[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A breach of a law or rule; a crime or sin.
  2. A feeling of hurt or annoyance; resentment: take offense.
  3. Something that causes displeasure or outrage.
  4. The act of attacking.
  5. (US, sports) The team or players trying to score; the attacking side.

Word family

  • offenseless

Usage notes

The AHD distinguishes offense, the broadest term for a violation of a moral, social or legal code, from crime, sin and error.[6]

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  7. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
  8. ^ Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press