Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
officer of arms
official
official birthday
official development assistance
Official Receiver
Official Referee
Official Solicitor
Official Unionist Party
officialdom
officialese
officialism
officiary
officiate
officinal
officious
offing
offish
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "offensive" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

offensive

of·fen·sive [ ə fénssiv ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
1. upsetting, insulting, or irritating: causing anger, resentment, or moral outrage
removed the offensive material from the play

2. unpleasant to senses: causing physical repugnance
an offensive smell

3. used when attacking: used, or designed to be used, when attacking
an offensive weapon

4. aggressive: demonstrating aggression
warned that this would be seen as an offensive action

5. in possession: relating to the team that has possession of the ball or puck in a game



noun  (plural of·fen·sives)
Definition:
 
military attack or assault: an attack, assault, or siege
The platoon braced itself for the dawn offensive.


of·fen·sive·ly adverb
of·fen·sive·ness noun
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
MSN Shopping
Encarta RSS Feeds
© 2008 Microsoft