Other forms: offensives
An offensive is a large planned military attack. Launch an offensive, the spring offensive, a major offensive.
It is also used figuratively for any organised campaign: a charm offensive, a diplomatic offensive. As an adjective it means causing offence — an offensive remark, deeply offensive — which is much the commoner sense in ordinary speech. It also means relating to attack rather than defence: offensive weapons, the offensive line in American football. Note take the offensive and on the offensive, meaning to attack rather than wait.
1nounoffensiveA large planned attack.
“The offensive began before dawn and lasted nine weeks.”
2adjectivecausingCausing offence.
“The remark was offensive and the apology was worse.”
3adjectiverelatingRelating to attack rather than defence.
“Carrying an offensive weapon is a separate charge.”
offensive is an attack, or a quality of causing offence.
Latin offendere means to strike against — ob-, against, plus fendere, to strike, the same verb inside defend. To offend somebody is to strike against them, and the military and the social senses are one act.
Latin
offendo — to offend
Middle French
offensif
English, today
offensive
From Middle French offensif, from offendre + -if by analogy with défensif. Offendre is from Latin offendo (“to offend”); see offend.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA