- offence⇄expr. give offence, to offend.
Ex. I just did not see you and did not mean to give offence. Pleasing the most delicate reader, without giving offence to the most scrupulous (Joseph Addison). - offence⇄expr. take offence, to be offended.
Ex. The players did not take offence when the coach criticized their basketball game. Unfortunately, offence is usually taken where offence is meant (A. W. Ward). - offence⇄offence, noun.
(Especially British and Canadian)
1a. the act of breaking the law; crime or sin.
Ex. a penal offence. The punishment for that offence is two years in prison. Murder is an offence against God and man.
(SYN) misdemea