Vocabulary
die
Offensive
/ɔfɛnˈziːvə/· noun· Pl. die Offensiven
offensive, attack (military); going on the attack; large-scale campaign, drive
Die Offensive — a large military attack in war reports; figuratively a big push (eine Bildungsoffensive) or taking the initiative in a dispute: in die Offensive gehen.
CEFR C1Frequency ●●●●●
Your memory
New
Learning
Familiar
Strong
Mastered
Forms
- Singular
- die Offensive
- Plural
- die Offensiven
- Genitiv
- der Offensive
One word, many lives
Tap a meaning. Real German isn't a dictionary translation.
Offensive
military offensive
Die Armee startete im Frühjahr eine Offensive im Osten des Landes.
The army launched an offensive in the east of the country in the spring.
Word family
Offensiveoffensivoffensive, attackingdie Gegenoffensivecounter-offensivedie Bildungsoffensiveeducation drivedie Charmeoffensivecharm offensive
Common combinations
- in die Offensive gehento go on the offensive
- eine Offensive startento launch an offensive
- die Offensive stoppento halt the offensive
Similar & opposite
↔ Opposites
Defensive
Common learner mistakes
- Seine Bemerkung war offensiv.Seine Bemerkung war beleidigend.False friend: English 'offensive' (insulting) is beleidigend; offensiv and die Offensive are about attacking and taking the initiative.
Real examples
- Die Offensive geriet nach wenigen Tagen ins Stocken, weil der Nachschub fehlte.The offensive stalled after a few days because supplies were lacking.
- Statt sich zu verteidigen, ging der Verband in die Offensive und verklagte die Zeitung.Instead of defending itself, the association went on the offensive and sued the newspaper.
- Mit einer groß angelegten Offensive will die Regierung den Fachkräftemangel bekämpfen.With a large-scale campaign, the government wants to tackle the shortage of skilled workers.
