Pronunciation: [əfˈɛns] (IPA) 
The word "offence" is spelled with two F's, which results in the sound /ɒfɛns/ in the IPA phonetic transcription. The F sounds in this word represent the voiceless labiodental fricative consonant /f/. This sound is produced by tightly bringing the bottom lip to the upper teeth and then blowing air through the small gap created. The word "offence" is commonly used in British English to refer to a crime or a violation of a law or rule.
Offence is a noun that can be defined as an act or behavior that violates moral or legal standards and is regarded as wrong or unacceptable. It refers to an action or conduct that causes annoyance, resentment, or displeasure to someone else, often resulting in hurt feelings or a sense of being wronged. It can also be seen as a transgression against a specific rule, norm, or code, leading to feelings of outrage or distress in others.
In legal terms, offence pertains to a violation of a law or a crime against the state, society, or an individual. It can include actions such as assault, theft, fraud, or any other unlawful act that is subject to punishment under the applicable legal system. Offences are typically categorized as either misdemeanors or felonies, depending on their severity and the corresponding penalties they carry.
Furthermore, offence can also refer to an act that causes personal insult, hurt, or disrespect to an individual or a group, challenging their dignity, beliefs, or values. It may arise from insensitive comments, derogatory language, or discriminatory actions that demean or degrade others based on their race, religion, gender, or any other characteristic.
Overall, offence involves actions or words that breach moral, ethical, or legal standards and illicit negative emotions or harm in others, whether on a personal or societal level.
Displeasure given or received; affront; injury; cause of sin; a sin; a fault; a crime.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "offence" comes from the Middle English word "offence" or "offens", which was derived from the Old French word "ofense", meaning "a wrong, injury, or harm". This Old French term was influenced by the Latin word "offensa", which also meant "an offense or injury". The Latin word "offensa" originated from the verb "offendere", which means "to strike against" or "to hit". In English, the spelling of the word shifted from "offence" to "offense" in the 17th century, but the meaning has remained relatively consistent throughout its history.
