Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Offensive \Of*fen"sive\, a. [Cf.F. offensif. See {Offend}.]
   1. Giving offense; causing displeasure or resentment;
      displeasing; annoying; as, offensive words.

   2. Giving pain or unpleasant sensations; disagreeable;
      revolting; noxious; as, an offensive smell; offensive
      sounds. ``Offensive to the stomach.'' --Bacon.

   3. Making the first attack; assailant; aggressive; hence,
      used in attacking; -- opposed to {defensive}; as, an
      offensive war; offensive weapons.

   {League offensive and defensive}, a leaque that requires all
      the parties to it to make war together against any foe,
      and to defend one another if attacked.

   Syn: Displeasing; disagreeable; distasteful; obnoxious;
        abhorrent; disgusting; impertinent; rude; saucy;
        reproachful; opprobrious; insulting; insolent; abusive;
        scurrilous; assailant; attacking; invading. --
        {Of*fen"sive*ly}, adv. -- {Of*fen"sive*ness}, n.

Offensive \Of*fen"sive\, n.
   The state or posture of one who offends or makes attack;
   aggressive attitude; the act of the attacking party; --
   opposed to {defensive}.

   {To act on the offensive}, to be the attacking party.

Source : WordNet®

offensive
     adj 1: violating or tending to violate or offend against;
            "violative of the principles of liberty"; "considered
            such depravity offensive against all laws of humanity"
            [syn: {violative}]
     2: for the purpose of attack rather than defense; "offensive
        weapons" [ant: {defensive}]
     3: causing anger or annoyance; "offensive remarks" [ant: {inoffensive}]
     4: morally offensive; "an unsavory reputation"; "an unsavory
        scandal" [syn: {unsavory}, {unsavoury}] [ant: {savory}]
     5: unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses;
        "offensive odors" [ant: {inoffensive}]
     6: of an offensive substitute for inoffensive terminology;
        "`nigger' is a dysphemistic term for `African-American'"
        [syn: {dysphemistic}] [ant: {euphemistic}]
     7: causing or able to cause nausea; "a nauseating smell";
        "nauseous offal"; "a sickening stench" [syn: {nauseating},
         {nauseous}, {noisome}, {loathsome}, {sickening}, {vile}]

offensive
     n : the action of attacking an enemy [syn: {offense}, {offence}]