# offside

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɒfˈsaɪd/ · frequency rank #21,303

## Definitions
1. In an illegal position ahead of the ball, puck, etc.
2. Out of bounds.
3. To the side of the road, past the curb and sidewalk.
4. Unfavourably located, from the point of view of the player taking a finesse.
5. To the side of a boat, opposite the primary side on which one paddles.

## Etymology
From off- + side. Compare German Abseite (“remote area, backside”), German abseits (“out of the way, apart, aside”, adverb), Dutch afzijdig (“neutral, impartial”).

## Easily confused with
- **onside** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/offside-vs-onside)
- **outside** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/offside-vs-outside)
- **office** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/office-vs-offside)
- **offline** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/offline-vs-offside)

## Common misspellings (8)
`fofside`, `offisde`, `offsdie`, `offsidde`, `offsied`, `offsside`, `ofsfide`, `ofside`

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