offensive

UK: /əˈfɛnsɪv/

US: /əˈfɛnsɪv or, for 4,5, ˈɔfɛn-, ˈɑfɛn-/

US: (ə fen′siv or, for 4, 5, ô′fen-, of′en-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

of•fen•sive /əˈfɛnsɪv or, for 4, 5. ˈɔfɛn-, ˈɑfɛn-/    adj. 

1. causing resentful displeasure;
   highly irritating or annoying:
   His remarks were highly offensive.
2. unpleasant or disagreeable to the senses;
   disgusting:
   offensive odors.
3. disgusting to one's moral sense or to good taste;
   repulsive:
   offensive language.
4. of or relating to offense or attack, as in war or games, etc.:
   [usually: before a noun] a good offensive strategy.

n. 

5. the position or strategy of attacking:
   [uncountable* usually: the + ~] to take the offensive; The army went on the offensive.
6. an attacking movement or strategy;
   attack:
   [countable] launching an offensive against the enemy lines.

See -fend-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

of•fen•sive  (ə fen′siv or, for 4, 5, ô′fen-, of′en-), adj. 

1. causing resentful displeasure;
   highly irritating, angering, or annoying:
   offensive television commercials.
2. unpleasant or disagreeable to the sense:
   an offensive odor.
3. repugnant to the moral sense, good taste, or the like;
   insulting:
   an offensive remark; an offensive joke.
4. pertaining to offense or attack:
   the offensive movements of their troops.
5. characterized by attack;
   aggressive:
   offensive warfare.

n. 

6. the position or attitude of aggression or attack:
   to take the offensive.
7. an aggressive movement or attack:
   a carefully planned naval offensive.

• Medieval Latin offēnsīvus, equivalent. to Latin offēns(us) past participle of offendere (see offend) + -īvus -ive
• 1540–50

of•fen′sive•ly, adv. 
of•fen′sive•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. displeasing, vexatious, vexing, unpleasant. See hateful. 
• 2, 3. distasteful, disgusting, revolting, repellent.
• 3. repulsive, shocking.
• 4. invading, attacking.

Antonyms

• 1, 2. pleasing.
• 4. defensive.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

offensive / əˈfɛnsɪv/ adjective

1. unpleasant or disgusting, as to the senses
2. causing anger or annoyance; insulting
3. for the purpose of attack rather than defence

noun

1. the offensive ⇒ an attitude or position of aggression
2. an assault, attack, or military initiative, esp a strategic one

ofˈfensively adverb

ofˈfensiveness noun