offshore

1 of 3

adverb

off·​shore ˈȯf-ˈshȯr How to pronounce offshore (audio)
1
: from the shore : seaward
also : at a distance from the shore
2
: outside the country : abroad

offshore

2 of 3

adjective

off·​shore ˈȯf-ˌshȯr How to pronounce offshore (audio)
1
: coming or moving away from the shore toward the water
an offshore breeze
2
a
: situated off the shore but within waters under a country's control
offshore fisheries
b
: distant from the shore compare inshore
3
: situated or operating in a foreign country
offshore mutual funds
offshore banking

offshore

3 of 3

preposition

off·​shore ˈȯf-ˌshȯr How to pronounce offshore (audio)
: off the shore of

Examples of offshore in a Sentence

Adjective We sailed to an offshore island. He works on an offshore oil rig. They opened an offshore bank account. He traced the money to an offshore investment company.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
Rescuers found the surfer around 9 a.m. local time on Thursday on the remote and uninhabited North Solitary Island, which is located around eight miles offshore, according to 7 News. Becca Longmire, People.com, 10 July 2025 Instead, larger ships must anchor offshore and transfer guests via tender boats, while daily disembarkations will be capped at 6,000 passengers. David Nikel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Adjective
The two companies committed in 2023 to jointly invest up to €15 billion in offshore wind and green hydrogen projects in Germany, the UK, and the US. semafor.com, 11 July 2025 The split there is a record-making $22.5M in domestic previews Thursday night, while $17.8M has come from the international box office so far in the movie’s first two days of offshore release. Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 11 July 2025
Preposition
The Outer Continental Shelf offshore Maine is virgin water for wind. Jeremy Beaman, Washington Examiner, 16 Jan. 2023 Bubbles emerge from a methane seep offshore Virginia. Jeffrey Marlow, Discover Magazine, 7 June 2016 See All Example Sentences for offshore

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1720, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of offshore was in 1720

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Offshore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offshore. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

offshore

1 of 2 adverb
off·​shore ˈȯf-ˈshō(ə)r How to pronounce offshore (audio)
-ˈshȯ(ə)r
: from the shore : at a distance from the shore

offshore

2 of 2 adjective
off·​shore ˈȯf-ˌshō(ə)r How to pronounce offshore (audio)
-ˌshȯ(ə)r
1
: coming or moving away from the shore
an offshore breeze
2
: located off the shore
offshore islands
an offshore oil rig

More from Merriam-Webster on offshore

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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