offence

noun

• 1a breach of a law or rule; an illegal act:the new offence of obtaining property by deception
• a thing that constitutes a violation of what is judged to be right or natural:the outcome is an offence to basic justice

• 2 [mass noun] annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult to or disregard for oneself:he made it clear he’d taken offence I didn’t intend to give offence

• 3 [mass noun] the action of attacking someone or something: [as modifier]:reductions in strategic offence arsenals
• (offense) /ˈɒfɛns, ˈaː-/ North American the attacking team or players in a sport, especially in American football: he is a wide receiver, playing on offense