offence

of|fence

W3 BrE offense AmE [əˈfens] n

1.)

an illegal action or a crime

▪ The possession of stolen property is a criminal offence.

▪ Punishment for a first offence is a fine.

▪ His solicitor said he committed the offence because he was heavily in debt.

▪ The bill makes it an offence to carry a knife.

offence against

▪ sexual offences against children

2.) [U]

when you offend or upset someone by something you do or say

cause/give offence

▪ The problem was how to say 'no' to her without causing offence.

▪ Don't be upset by what he said; he meant no offence (=did not intend to offend anyone) .

3.) no offence

spoken used to tell someone that you hope that what you are going to say or do will not offend them

▪ No offense, but this cheese tastes like rubber.

4.) take offence (at sth)

to feel offended because of something someone says or does

▪ I think he took offence at my lack of enthusiasm.

5.) [U] formal

the act of attacking

▪ the weapon of offence used during the attack

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COLLOCATES for sense 1

criminal offence

serious/minor offence

first offence (=the first illegal thing that someone has done)

commit an offence

capital offence (=a crime for which death is the punishment)

federal offense American English (=a very serious offence against the law of the US, rather than against state law)

driving/parking etc offence

it is an offence to do something

make something an offence/make it an offence to do something

a punishable offence

an offence punishable by/with something

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