offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code.
at that school no offense went unpunished
sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.
the sin of blasphemy
vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts.
regarded gambling as a vice
crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state.
the crime of murder
scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience.
a career ruined by a sex scandal
Example Sentences
He was found guilty and fined $250 for each offense. Penalties for a first offense range from fines to jail time. Our team has the best offense in the league. The quarterback directs the offense. The team needs some work on its offense. The team plays good offense. See More
Recent Examples on the WebRemember, on offense last week OSU was down three receivers and the running back room has only one scholarship running back — true freshman Dallan Hayden — behind TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams. Nathan Baird, cleveland, 16 Sep. 2022 Washington, like Michigan State, is 2-0 and in those wins have scored 97 points, a sign that the recent struggles on offense might be a thing of the past with the new regime.USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2022 This week saw efforts from Republicans aiming to put their party on offense. Rick Klein, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2022 On Thursday, the Tigers struggled on offense in the first period – scoring on a safety following an errant snap that Lee quarterback Bryson McGrew fell on in the end zone just 51 seconds into the game. Al.com Reports, al, 15 Sep. 2022 At this age, our defensive pressure causes havoc on the offense. Emmett Hall, Sun Sentinel, 15 Sep. 2022 Liberated from the difficult task of having to defend policies and ideas, Republicans play exclusively on offense. Michael Sokolove, The New Republic, 15 Sep. 2022 D'Andre Swift had more rushing yards than all but two players in the NFL last week, but the Detroit Lions still think Swift has more to offer on offense. Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 15 Sep. 2022 While some Republicans have taken a defensive posture, others are going on offense. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English offence, offense "assault, breach of law, causing of displeasure," borrowed from Anglo-French offense, borrowed from Latin offensa "encounter with an obstacle, injury, wrong," noun derivative from feminine of offensus, past participle of offendere "to strike against, break a rule, displease" — more at offend
Note: The English senses "act of stumbling, stumbling block" are dependent on the Biblical passage "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense" (Isaiah 8:14, 1 Peter 2:8 in the Authorized/King James Version), itself dependent on the literal sense "stumble upon" of Latin offendere and its derivatives (cf. Vulgate "lapis offensionis et petra scandali").