offense
uh-FENSE
/əˈfens/
The team or players in possession of the ball, attempting to score.
In North American sports, it refers to the unit of players; in other contexts, it can mean the act of attacking.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'offendere,' meaning 'to strike against.' When you are on the offense, you are striking against the opponent's goal.
Word relationships
- attack: Attack is more commonly used in soccer and rugby; offense is standard in basketball and American football.
- defense: Defense is the act of preventing the opponent from scoring.
Commonly confused with
- offensive: Offense is the noun (the team); offensive is usually the adjective (the play) or can mean insulting.
Word family
- offend (verb): To cause hurt or resentment; to commit an illegal act.
- offensive (adjective): Actively aggressive; attacking.
Collocations
- potent offense
- stagnant offense
- take offense
- offensive play
Example sentences
- "The best defense is a good offense." Sports philosophy
- "The Lakers have one of the most potent offenses in the league this season." Basketball
Memory hook
Offense is 'on the fence' of the opponent's territory. Striking against.
When not to use
In British English, 'attack' is more common for soccer, while 'offense' is used for American football and basketball.
Fun facts
- In American sports, 'offense' is often pronounced with the stress on the first syllable (OFF-ense) to distinguish it from the word meaning 'insult' (uh-FENSE).
Related words
Explore more words
offensive, counterattack, defense, execution, assault, counteroffensive
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