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
Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Tucked along a quiet stretch of Highway 1, where the fog rolls in thick and oyster beds shimmer just offshore, Nick’s Cove has held its ground for nearly a century.
—Keyla Vasconcellos, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Jane Ho, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
The government has planned to double onshore wind and quadruple offshore wind by 2030, according to WindEurope, in pursuit of low-carbon goals.
—Julia Mueller, The Hill, 23 May 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
The warnings applied to mariners from Cape Mendocino to Point Arena, covering a stretch 10 to 60 nautical miles offshore.
—Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Tucked along a quiet stretch of Highway 1, where the fog rolls in thick and oyster beds shimmer just offshore, Nick’s Cove has held its ground for nearly a century.
—Keyla Vasconcellos, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Adjective
In November, a wind power unit of their group’s insurance arm agreed to invest $1.65 billion for a 50% stake in an offshore wind farm in Taiwan, to be constructed and run by Danish energy company Ørsted.
—Jane Ho, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
The government has planned to double onshore wind and quadruple offshore wind by 2030, according to WindEurope, in pursuit of low-carbon goals.
—Julia Mueller, The Hill, 23 May 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
Cite this Entry
“Offshore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offshore. Accessed 10 Jun. 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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