Offensiv

Offensiv is a German adjective meaning offensive or attack-oriented, used to describe approaches, tactics, or stances that aim to go on the attack rather than to defend. It is commonly paired with nouns such as Taktik, Spielweise, Politik, or Vorgehen. The opposite term is defensiv.

The word derives from the French offensif, which in turn comes from Latin offensus or related roots. In German, offensiv is integrated as a standard adjective and can function as an adverb in phrases such as offensiv vorgehen, meaning to proceed offensively.

In military usage, an Offensive (capitalized) refers to a coordinated campaign or operation intended to advance and attack; the adjective offensiv can describe a broader strategy or posture. In sports, offensiv describes the attacking side or style of play—often contrasted with defensiv, which covers defense-oriented or cautious play. In political and public discourse, offensiv can describe policies, rhetoric, or strategies framed as proactive or aggressive in pursuing objectives.

Usage varies somewhat by domain and region, but offensiv generally conveys initiative, forward action, and a propensity to press an advantage rather than to hold a defensive line. In many contexts, the corresponding noun Offensive is used for formal terms such as military offensives or specific attacking phases in team sports. The term is widely understood in German-speaking areas and often appears in the same sense in related languages with similar roots.