Pronunciation: /əˈfɛns/

Definitions of offence

noun a thing that causes anger or annoyance

Example Sentences

A1 He accidentally caused offence by forgetting his friend's birthday.

A2 She apologized immediately when she realized her words had caused offence.

B1 The company's advertisement was deemed to be inoffensive and did not cause any offence.

B2 The comedian's jokes crossed the line and caused widespread offence among the audience.

C1 The politician's remarks were taken out of context and led to a national debate on freedom of speech and offence.

C2 The artist's controversial exhibit sparked heated discussions on the boundaries of artistic expression and offence.

Examples of offence in a Sentence

formal Committing an offence against the law can result in serious consequences.

informal I didn't mean to cause any offence with my comment.

slang He got arrested for his latest offence.

figurative Her actions were seen as an offence to the traditions of the community.

Grammatical Forms of offence

past tense

offended

plural

offences

comparative

more offensive

superlative

most offensive

present tense

offends

future tense

will offend

perfect tense

have offended

continuous tense

is offending

singular

offence

positive degree

offensive

infinitive

to offend

gerund

offending

participle

offended

Origin and Evolution of offence

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'offence' originated from the Latin word 'offendere', meaning to strike against or stumble upon.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'offence' has evolved to encompass a broader range of meanings beyond physical harm or stumbling, including actions or words that cause displeasure or resentment.