n
[C]
an illegal action or a crime
　The possession of stolen property is a criminal offence.
　Punishment for a first offence is a fine.
　His solicitor said he committed the offence because he was heavily in debt.
　The bill makes it an offence to carry a knife.
offence against
　sexual offences against children
[U]
when you offend or upset someone by something you do or say
cause/give offence
　The problem was how to say 'no' to her without causing offence.
　Don't be upset by what he said; he meant no offence (=did not intend to offend anyone) .
no offence
spoken used to tell someone that you hope that what you are going to say or do will not offend them
　No offense, but this cheese tastes like rubber.
take offence (at sth)
to feel offended because of something someone says or does
　I think he took offence at my lack of enthusiasm.
[U]formal
the act of attacking
　the weapon of offence used during the attack

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COLLOCATES for sense 1
criminal offence
serious/minor offence
first offence (=the first illegal thing that someone has done)
commit an offence
capital offence (=a crime for which death is the punishment)
federal offenseAmerican English (=a very serious offence against the law of the US, rather than against state law)
driving/parking etc offence
it is an offence to do something
make something an offence/make it an offence to do something
a punishable offence
an offence punishable by/with something

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