offensive

Universal Words adjective, noun adjective 1 ~ (to sb) rude in a way that causes you to feel upset, insulted or annoyed: offensive behaviour / remarks * His comments were deeply offensive to a large number of single mothers. * The programme contains language which some viewers may find offensive. OPPINOFFENSIVE 2 (formal) extremely unpleasant: an offensive smell 3 [onlybeforenoun] connected with the act of attacking sb/sth: an offensive war * offensive action * He was charged with carrying an offensive weapon. compareDEFENSIVE 4 (AmE, sport) connected with the team that has control of the ball; connected with the act of scoring points: offensive play compareDEFENSIVE offensively adverb: He later apologized for speaking offensively about the Queen. * (AmE) The team needs to be encouraged to play more offensively. offensiveness noun [U] noun 1 a military operation in which large numbers of soldiers, etc. attack another country: an air / a bombing offensive * The final offensive was launched on January 10. 2 a series of actions aimed at achieving sth in a way that attracts a lot of attention: The government has launched a new offensive against crime. * a sales offensive * The public seems unconvinced by their latest charm offensive (= their attempt to make people like them). IDIOMS be on the offensive to be attacking sb/sth rather than waiting for them to attack you: The Scots were on the offensive for most of the game. * The government is very much on the offensive in the fight against drugs. go on (to) the offensive