# offensive

> English word · Adjective · IPA /əˈfɛnsɪv/ · frequency rank #3,247

## Definitions
1. Causing offense; arousing a visceral reaction of disgust, anger, hatred, sadness, or indignation.
2. Relating to an offense or attack, as opposed to defensive.
3. Having to do with play directed at scoring.

## Etymology
From Middle French offensif, from offendre + -if by analogy with défensif. Offendre is from Latin offendere (“to offend”); see offend.

## Easily confused with
- **offensively** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/offensive-vs-offensively)
- **offense** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/offense-vs-offensive)

## Common misspellings (11)
`fofensive`, `ofefnsive`, `ofensive`, `offenisve`, `offennsive`, `offensiev`, `offensivve`, `offenssive`, `offensvie`, `offesnive`, `offnesive`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/offensive