[of.fense] or of.fence n [ME, fr. MF, fr. L offensa, fr. fem. of offensus, pp. of offendere] (14c) 1 a obs: an act of stumbling b archaic: a cause or occasion of sin: stumbling block
2: something that outrages the moral or physical senses 3 a: the act of attacking: assault b: the means or method of attacking or of attempting to score c: the offensive team or members of a team playing offensive positions d: scoring ability
4. a: the act of displeasing or affronting b: the state of being insulted or morally outraged "takes ~ at the slightest criticism"
5. a: a breach of a moral or social code: sin, misdeed b: an infraction of law; esp: misdemeanor -- of.fense.less adj syn offense, resentment, umbrage, pique, dudgeon, huff mean an emotional response to or an emotional state resulting from a slight or indignity. offense implies hurt displeasure "takes deep offense at racial slurs". resentment suggests a longer lasting indignation or smoldering ill will "harbored a lifelong resentment of his brother". umbrage may suggest hurt pride, resentment, or suspicion of another's motives "took umbrage at the offer of advice". pique applies to a transient feeling of wounded vanity "in a pique I foolishly declined the invitation". dudgeon suggests an angry fit of indignation "stormed out of the meeting in high dudgeon". huff implies a peevish short-lived spell of anger usu. at a petty cause "in a huff he slammed the door". syn offense, sin, vice, crime, scandal mean a transgression of law. offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code "at that school no offense went unpunished". sin implies an offense against moral or religious law "the sin of blasphemy". vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts "regarded gambling as a vice". crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state "the crime of murder". scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience "a career ruined by a sex scandal".