An offence is a crime that breaks a particular law and requires a particular punishment.

Offence or an offence is behaviour which causes people to be upset or embarrassed.

In sports such as American football or basketball, the offense is the team which has possession of the ball and is trying to score.

If you cause offence or give offence to someone, you say or do something rude which upsets or embarrasses them.

Some people say 'no offence' to make it clear that they do not want to upset you, although what they are saying may seem rather rude.

If someone takes offence at something you say or do, they feel upset, often unnecessarily, because they think you are being rude to them.