Offense or Offence | Difference & Example Sentences
Offence and offense are two different spellings of the same word, a noun used to refer to a crime or breach of rule, the state of being insulted, or a sports position intended to score on an opponent.
The spelling tends to vary based on whether you’re writing in UK or US English:
- In UK English, ‘offence’ (with a ‘c’) is standard.
- In US English, ‘offense’ (with an ‘s’) is more common.
Table of contents
Offensive
Offensive (with an ‘s’) is an adjective used to describe something as ‘causing displeasure’ or ‘intended for offence/offense’. It can also be used as a noun to refer to a military attack.
‘Offensive’ and the related adverb ‘offensively’ are always spelled with an ‘s’. ‘Offencive’ is never correct.
No offense or no offence
No offence/offense is a phrase used to indicate that you do not intend to insult someone. It means the same whether written with an ‘s’ or a ‘c’.
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Definitions
US vs. UK spellings
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