offensive

Everyday

1. Rude or insulting, likely to upset people. tree →
2. Very unpleasant to the senses: an offensive smell. tree →
3. (sport, US) To do with attacking and scoring, not defending: the offensive team. tree →
4. (noun) A big attack in a war: launch an offensive. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and school rules, offensive language is not allowed. In sport, especially American football and basketball, offense and offensive players attack. In history, an offensive is a large attack by an army. Phrases: offensive language, go on the offensive, offensive line.

Examples

• Using offensive words in class is not allowed. tree →
• There was an offensive smell coming from the bin. tree →
• That joke is offensive to many people. tree →
• Our team's offensive play was brilliant. tree →
• The army began a spring offensive. tree →
• When she was blamed, she went on the offensive. tree →
• And indeed Tink was darting about again, using offensive language. tree →

Note

Opposite in sport: defensive. Opposite in manners: polite, inoffensive. «Go on the offensive» means start attacking or arguing back. Linked to offend and offended; offended = how you feel, offensive = what caused it.