Standard Lemma guide

offside

adj · noun · 12 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ɒfˈsaɪd/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -aɪd

1

adj

Meaning 1

In an illegal position ahead of the ball, puck, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Out of bounds.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, slang

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

To the side of the road, past the curb and sidewalk.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

Examples

  • an offside diner

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Unfavourably located, from the point of view of the player taking a finesse.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: bridge, games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adj

Meaning 5

To the side of a boat, opposite the primary side on which one paddles.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

An offside play.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

The side of a road vehicle furthest from the kerb: the right side if one drives on the left of the road.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, UK

Examples

  • My offside wing mirror got snapped off.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

The right-hand side of a working animal such as a horse or bullock, especially when in harness.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

The side of a canal opposite the towpath.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

adjective

Meaning 10

illegally beyond a prescribed line or area or ahead of the ball or puck

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the touchdown was nullified because the left tackle was offside

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: offsides

Antonyms: onside

11

adverb

Meaning 11

illegally in advance of the ball or puck

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

noun

Meaning 12

(sport) the mistake of occupying an illegal position on the playing field (in football, soccer, ice hockey, field hockey, etc.)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: mistake, error, fault

History

Etymology

From off- + side. Compare German Abseite (“remote area, backside”), German abseits (“out of the way, apart, aside”, adverb), Dutch afzijdig (“neutral, impartial”).

Across languages

Translations

67 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Belarusian: афса́йд (afsájd) — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Bulgarian: в засада (v zasada) — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Catalan: fora de joc — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Czech: ofsajdový — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Finnish: paitsiossa — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • French: hors-jeu — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • German: im Abseits — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • German: abseits — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Hungarian: les — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Icelandic: rangstæður — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Italian: fuorigioco — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Latvian: aizmugure — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Macedonian: офсајд (ofsajd) — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Macedonian: недозволена позиција (nedozvolena pozicija) — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Malay: ofsaid — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Māori: tūhapa — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Marathi: ऑफसाईड (ŏphsāīḍ) — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Polish: na spalonym — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Portuguese: impedido — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Portuguese: fora de jogo — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Russian: офсайд (ofsajd) — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Russian: положе́ние вне игры (položénije vne igry) — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Spanish: fuera de juego — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Swahili: otea — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Turkish: ofsayt — in an illegal position ahead of the ball
  • Bulgarian: крайпътен (krajpǎten) — to the side of a road
  • Finnish: tienvarsi- — to the side of a road
  • Finnish: tienvieri- — to the side of a road
  • German: am Straßenrand — to the side of a road
  • German: Straßenrand- — to the side of a road
  • Portuguese: junto à estrada — to the side of a road
  • Arabic: تَسَلُّل (tasallul) — offside play
  • Bulgarian: засада (zasada) — offside play
  • Catalan: fora de joc — offside play
  • Chinese Mandarin: 越位 (yuèwèi) — offside play
  • Czech: ofsajd — offside play
  • Czech: postavení mimo hru — offside play
  • Danish: offside — offside play
  • Dutch: buitenspel — offside play
  • Esperanto: ofsajdo — offside play
  • Finnish: paitsio — offside play
  • French: hors-jeu — offside play
  • German: Abseits — offside play
  • Greek: οφσάιντ (ofsáint) — offside play
  • Greek: εκτός παιδιάς (ektós paidiás) — offside play
  • Icelandic: rangstaða — offside play
  • Indonesian: offside — offside play
  • Italian: fuorigioco — offside play
  • Japanese: オフサイド (ofusaido) — offside play
  • Korean: 오프사이드 (opeusaideu) — offside play
  • Luxembourgish: Abseits — offside play
  • Malay: ofsaid — offside play
  • Marathi: ऑफसाईड (ŏphsāīḍ) — offside play
  • Polish: spalony — offside play
  • Portuguese: impedimento — offside play
  • Portuguese: fora de jogo — offside play
  • Russian: положе́ние вне игры (položénije vne igry) — offside play
  • Serbo-Croatian: ȍfsājd — offside play
  • Slovak: ofsajd — offside play
  • Spanish: fuera de juego — offside play
  • Spanish: posición adelantada — offside play
  • Spanish: posición prohibida — offside play
  • Spanish: órsay — offside play
  • Swedish: offside — offside play
  • Thai: การล้ําหน้า — offside play
  • Thai: ออฟไซด์ — offside play
  • Turkish: ofsayt — offside play