1.The act of offending in any sense; esp., a crime or a sin, an affront or an injury. "Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification." "I have given my opinion against the authority of two great men, but I hope without offense to their memories."
2.The state of being offended or displeased; anger; displeasure; as, to cause offense. "He was content to give them just cause of offense, when they had power to make just revenge."
3.A cause or occasion of stumbling or of sin. (Obs.) "Woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!"
4.In any contest, the act or process of attacking as contrasted with the act of defending; the offensive; as, to go on the offense.
5.(Sports) The members of a team who have the primary responsibility to score goals, in contrast to those who have the responsibility to defend, i.e. to prevent the opposing team from scoring goal. Note: This word, like expense, is often spelled with a c. It ought, however, to undergo the same change with expense, the reasons being the same, namely, that s must be used in offensive as in expensive, and is found in the Latin offensio, and the French offense.
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