Meaning & use
offside
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivesport
In sports like soccer or hockey, in a position that is not allowed because you are too far forward.
Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'be offside' or 'catch someone offside'; it is not used before a noun.
Patterns
- be offside
- catch someone offside
- called offside
The striker was ruled offside by the referee.
He was caught offside just as he was about to score.
The goal was disallowed because the player was offside.
adverbsport
In a position that is not allowed in sports like soccer or hockey.
Grammar: Used after a verb: run offside, stand offside.
Patterns
- run offside
- stand offside
The winger ran offside and the linesman raised his flag.
He was standing offside when the ball was played.
nounsingularBritish
The side of a vehicle that is furthest from the curb, or the right side in countries where you drive on the left.
Grammar: Usually used with 'the': the offside of the car.
Patterns
- the offside of something
- on the offside
The damage was on the offside of the car.
He checked his offside mirror before changing lanes.
Common combinations
- be offside
- The forward was offside when the pass was made.
- catch someone offside
- The defender's quick move caught the attacker offside.
- offside rule
- The offside rule is one of the most debated in soccer.
- offside position
- He was in an offside position when the ball was played.
Synonyms and how they differ
Opposites
Commonly confused: offside or offside?
offside vs offside
In British English, 'offside' can also mean the right side of a vehicle; in American English, the driver's side is the left side, so 'offside' is the passenger side.
Practice
The goal was disallowed because the player was _____.
Choose one answer.
In soccer, a player in an illegal forward position is 'offside'. 'Onside' is the opposite, 'offshore' means at sea, and 'offhand' means without preparation.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “offside”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.