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
off·shore
ˈȯf-ˌshȯr 
: 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
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
The booster returned to Earth about eight minutes after launch like the legions of its predecessors, touching down on the drone ship Just Read the Instructions stationed offshore in the Atlantic Ocean.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2025
Kate Yoder, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2025
Large-scale, long-term development projects such as in Russia’s (small) offshore oil sector should be avoided as having the most risk.
—Michael Lynch, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
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
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Adverb
Both storms remained offshore, although Alfred's presence translated to hazardous condition warnings along the coast of Queensland.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
The booster returned to Earth about eight minutes after launch like the legions of its predecessors, touching down on the drone ship Just Read the Instructions stationed offshore in the Atlantic Ocean.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
An offshore wind project is seen from Trump International Golf Links in Scotland.
—Kate Yoder, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2025
Large-scale, long-term development projects such as in Russia’s (small) offshore oil sector should be avoided as having the most risk.
—Michael Lynch, Forbes, 28 Feb. 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
Articles Related to offshore
Cite this Entry
“Offshore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offshore. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
offshore
1 of 2 adverb
off·shore
ˈȯf-ˈshō(ə)r
-ˈshȯ(ə)r
: from the shore : at a distance from the shore
offshore
2 of 2 adjective
off·shore
ˈȯf-ˌshō(ə)r
-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
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