To offend means to hurt someone's feelings or make them angry, usually by saying or doing something disrespectful or inappropriate. When you offend someone, you've crossed a line that matters to them, even if you didn't mean to.

You might offend your friend by making a joke about something they care deeply about, or offend your teacher by talking during an important announcement. Sometimes people offend others accidentally, like forgetting someone's birthday. Other times, they offend on purpose.

The word can also mean to break a law or rule. A criminal offends against the law, and we call crimes offenses. Someone who commits multiple crimes is called a repeat offender.

When you realize you've offended someone, a helpful response is usually a sincere apology. Just saying “I was only joking” or “You're too sensitive” rarely helps. People have different backgrounds and experiences, so what seems harmless to you might genuinely hurt someone else.

Being offensive means being likely to offend people. An offensive comment is one that insults or disrespects others. Learning to communicate without offending people unnecessarily is an important skill, though standing up for what's right sometimes means risking offense.