WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
of•fend /əˈfɛnd/USA pronunciation
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to irritate, annoy, or anger;
cause resentful displeasure in;
insult:[~ + object]His impolite remarks offended the audience. - to affect (the sense, taste, etc.) in an unpleasant or disagreeable way:[~ + object]That odor offends my nose.
- to violate (a criminal, religious, or moral law): [~ + object]The movie offends the morals of the community.[~ + against + object]The movie offends against our principles.
- to cause displeasure or resentment:[no object]words that offend.
of•fend
(ə fend′),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
of•fend′a•ble, adj.
of•fend′ed•ly, adv.
of•fend′ed•ness, n.
of•fend′er, n.
- to irritate, annoy, or anger;
cause resentful displeasure in:Even the hint of prejudice offends me. - to affect (the sense, taste, etc.) disagreeably.
- to violate or transgress (a criminal, religious, or moral law).
- to hurt or cause pain to.
- Bible(in Biblical use) to cause to fall into sinful ways.
v.i.
- to cause resentful displeasure;
irritate, annoy, or anger:a remark so thoughtless it can only offend. - to err in conduct;
commit a sin, crime, or fault.
- Latin offendere to strike against, displease, equivalent. to of- of- + -fendere to strike
- Middle French offendre
- Middle English offenden 1275–1325
of•fend′ed•ly, adv.
of•fend′ed•ness, n.
of•fend′er, n.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged provoke, chafe, nettle, affront, insult.
- 7.See corresponding entry in Unabridged transgress.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged please.
'offender' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
atone
- bench warrant
- book
- borstal
- capital
- cherry
- cucking stool
- dangerous offender
- dharna
- ducking stool
- extraditable
- extradite
- extradition
- first offender
- flagrant
- forgive
- gauntlet
- ho
- hue and cry
- keelhaul
- lawbreaker
- let
- life
- medicine
- mercy
- pack drill
- pardon
- pillory
- probate
- show trial
- stock
- stocks
- suspended sentence
- tag
- weekender
- wrong
- wrongdoer
- young offender institution
- youth custody centre
- youthful offender