Offend definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

offend in American English · 1. to break a law, religious commandment, etc.; commit a sin or crime · 2. to create resentment, anger, or displeasure; give offense. EnglishDictionary Thesaurus WordLists Grammar EnglishEasyLearningGrammar GrammarPatterns EnglishUsage TeachingResources VideoGuides Conjugations Quiz Englishgrammar Englishcollocations Englishconfusables Englishidioms Englishusage Thematicwordlists English French German Italian Spanish Portuguese Hindi Chinese Korean Definitionof 'offend'    WordFrequency Share× Credits× offend (əfend ) Wordforms:3rdpersonsingularpresent tenseoffends ,presentparticipleoffending ,pasttense,pastparticipleoffended 1. verb Ifyouoffendsomeone,yousayordosomethingrudewhichupsetsorembarrassesthem. Heapologizesforhiscommentsandsayshehadnointentionofoffendingthecommunity.[VERBnoun] Thesurveyfoundalmost90percentofpeoplewereoffendedbystrongswearwords.[beVERB-ed] Televisioncensorsarecuttingoutsceneswhichtheyclaimmayoffend.[VERB] Synonyms:distress,upset,outrage,pain MoreSynonymsofoffend offended adjective[verb-linkADJECTIVE]Sheisterriblyoffended,angeredandhurtbythis. Synonyms:upset,pained,hurt,bothered MoreSynonymsofoffend 2. verb Tooffendagainstalaw,rule,orprinciplemeanstobreakit. [formal]Thisbilloffendsagainstgoodsenseandagainstjustice.[VERB+against] Thepeakageforoffendingthelawisbetween15and25.[VERBnoun] 3. verb[nocont] Ifsomeoneoffends,theycommitacrime. [formal]InWesterncountriesgirlsarefarlesslikelytooffendthanboys.[VERB] MoreSynonymsofoffend COBUILDAdvancedEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Video:pronunciationof offend Youmayalsolike EnglishQuizConfusables Synonymsof'offend' LanguageLover'sBlog FrenchTranslationof'offend' Translateyourtext PronunciationPlaylists Wordoftheday:'NewYearresolution' HindiTranslationof'offend' NEWfromCollins! EnglishGrammar CollinsApps WordFrequency offendinBritishEnglish (əˈfɛnd ) verb1. tohurtthefeelings,senseofdignity,etc,of(aperson) 2. (transitive) tobedisagreeableto;disgust thesmelloffendedhim 3. (intrexceptinarchaicuses) tobreak(alaworlawsingeneral) CollinsEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Derivedformsoffender(ofˈfender)noun offending(ofˈfending)adjective WordoriginC14:viaOldFrenchoffendretostrikeagainst,fromLatinoffendere,fromob-against+fenderetostrike WordFrequency offendinAmericanEnglish (əˈfɛnd ) verbintransitive1.  tobreakalaw,religiouscommandment,etc.;commitasinorcrime 2.  tocreateresentment,anger,ordispleasure;giveoffense verbtransitive3.  tohurtthefeelingsof;causetofeelresentful,angry,ordispleased;insult 4.  tobedispleasingto(thetaste,sense,etc.) 5. Obsoletea.  totransgress;violate b.  tocausetosin SYNONYMYNOTE:offendimpliesacausingdispleasureorresentmentinanother,intentionallyorunintentionally, bywoundinghisorherfeelingsorbyabreachofhisorhersenseofpropriety[shewillbeoffendedifsheisnotinvited];affrontimpliesopenanddeliberatedisrespectoroffense[toaffrontsomeone'smodesty];insultimpliesanaffrontsoinsolentorcontemptuouslyrudeastocausedeephumiliation andresentment[toinsultsomeonebycallinghimaliar];outrageimpliesanextremeoffenseagainstsomeone'ssenseofright,justice,propriety, etc.[hewasoutragedbytheofferofabribe]Webster’sNewWorldCollegeDictionary,4thEdition.Copyright©2010by HoughtonMifflinHarcourt.Allrightsreserved. Derivedformsoffender(ofˈfender) noun WordoriginMEoffenden