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offshore

/ɑfˈʃɔr/
/ɒfˈʃɔ/
IPA guide

Other forms: offshores

Anything offshore happens out at sea — and when you're talking about the wind, offshore means it's blowing toward the water.

During your Caribbean vacation, you might paddle out to an offshore sandbar, a raised area away from the beach. You could also put on fins and a snorkel and check out some offshore coral reefs. Offshore breezes bring cooler air to the coast, and offshore drilling is a method of seeking out underwater oil and gas. If someone has an "offshore bank account," it means they keep their money in a foreign country — probably to avoid paying taxes on it.

Definitions of offshore
  1. adjective
    (of winds) coming from the land
    offshore winds”
    synonyms: seaward
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    inshore
    (of winds) coming from the sea toward the land
  2. adjective
    at some distance from the shore
    offshore oil reserves”
    “an offshore island”
    synonyms:
    marine
    relating to or characteristic of or occurring on or in the sea
  3. adverb
    away from shore; away from land
    “cruising three miles offshore
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    onshore
    on or toward the land
Pronunciation
US
/ɑfˈʃɔr/
UK
/ɒfˈʃɔ/
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