verb
offend
To cause hurt or anger, or break a rule or law.
His rude jokes offend several people at the office.
Etymology
Latin offendere means to strike against or encounter an obstacle. The figurative senses make wrongdoing or insulting behavior a collision with another person’s feelings or with a rule.
More examples
- She worries that her honest opinion will offend her friend.
- The policy offends against basic principles of fairness.
- People who offend again may face longer prison sentences.
Forms
offend · offends · offended · offending
offender noun — A person who breaks a law or rule.
offensive adjective — Causing someone to feel hurt or angry.