Offshore means located in or on the ocean, away from the coast. Oil companies drill for petroleum at offshore platforms far out at sea. Fishermen catch offshore fish species that live in deeper ocean waters rather than near the beach. When meteorologists talk about offshore winds, they mean winds blowing from the land toward the ocean.

The word also describes business activities conducted in foreign countries, often to save money or gain other advantages. Companies might move offshore to places where operating costs are lower. When a business sets up offshore accounts, it keeps money in banks in other countries. People sometimes use this meaning with a negative tone, suggesting that companies are avoiding responsibilities at home, though offshore operations can also be perfectly legitimate ways of doing international business.

You can think of offshore as the opposite of onshore. An onshore oil well sits on land, while an offshore rig sits out at sea. Onshore winds blow from the sea toward land, while offshore winds blow the opposite direction. Whether you're talking about geography or business, offshore always means away from the coast or outside your home country.