offense

offense — noun

1. an action that breaks a rule of the law and that someone can be punished for in

1.名詞B2
釋義

an action that breaks a rule of the law and that someone can be punished for in court.

例句

Driving without a license is a serious offense in most American states.

subject + be + a [adj] offense

Marcus pleaded guilty to three offenses, including theft and dangerous driving.

plead guilty to + offenses

同義詞
  • crime

    everyday word for any illegal act; 'offense' is the more formal legal label

  • violation

    covers breaches of rules or rights too, not only criminal law

  • infraction

    minor offense, especially traffic or workplace rules

文法句型

commit an offense

offense against [law/person]

用法筆記

Subject is usually the act itself (driving, selling, refusing), and the verb is most often a form of 'be' or 'commit'. American legal English; British texts spell this 'offence'.

常見錯誤

❌He did an offense.
✅He committed an offense.
💡the standard verb is 'commit', not 'do'.
❌She was charged for an offense.
✅She was charged with an offense.
💡use 'with', not 'for', after 'charge'.

2. a hurt or angry reaction someone has when they feel another person has been rude

2.名詞B2
釋義

a hurt or angry reaction someone has when they feel another person has been rude, unfair, or insulting toward them.

例句

Aunt Rosa took offense when nobody tried her birthday cake.

take offense at / when [trigger]

I hope my joke about your accent did not cause any offense.

cause + offense

同義詞
  • insult

    the rude act itself, while 'offense' is the upset feeling it produces

  • umbrage

    very formal; almost only in 'take umbrage at'

  • affront

    formal; an open, deliberate insult that wounds someone's dignity

反義詞
  • compliment

    remark intended to please rather than to upset

文法句型

cause / give offense (to sb)

take offense (at sth)

用法筆記

Almost always uncountable in this sense, and almost always appears in the fixed patterns 'take offense (at)', 'cause / give offense (to)', or 'mean no offense'. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about emotional hurt, not breaking the law.

常見錯誤

❌She took an offense at my comment.
✅She took offense at my comment.
💡no article: this sense is uncountable.
❌I did not want to make offense.
✅I did not want to cause / give offense.
💡pair 'offense' with 'cause' or 'give', not 'make'.

3. in American sports such as football or basketball, the players on a team who are

3.名詞C1
釋義

in American sports such as football or basketball, the players on a team who are trying to score, or the way they try to score.

例句

The Chiefs have the strongest offense in the league this season.

the + offense (singular noun)

Coach Wilson told the players to switch from defense to offense.

contrast: defense vs. offense

同義詞
  • attack

    British equivalent in soccer and similar team sports

  • offensive line

    narrower: only the players who block in American football

反義詞
  • defense

    the players or method used to stop the other team from scoring

文法句型

the offense

play offense

用法筆記

Almost always preceded by 'the' when referring to the players (the offense), but used without an article in the verb phrase 'play offense'. American English only; British speakers use 'attack' for the same idea.

常見錯誤

❌He plays in offense.
✅He plays offense.
💡no preposition or article in this fixed phrase.
❌The offenses scored twice.' (referring to one team)
✅The offense scored twice.
💡when it means one team's attacking unit, treat it as singular.