variants
or less commonly off-line
1
: not connected to or served by a system and especially a computer or telecommunications system
One of the servers is offline.
… we suggest you keep a backup of your digital assets in offline storage, too. This storage can provide some cushioning if your online investment disappears in an instant.—
The Denver (Colorado) Post
The Denver (Colorado) Post
also
: done or occurring independently of such a system
our online and offline lives
offline activities/events
Movies and shows can be downloaded via the app for offline viewing. —Dan Auty
Dan Auty 2
of a person
: not available (as for communication) especially by way of the Internet
She was having computer trouble, she told him, and would be offline for a while.—Mark Warren
Mark Warren
off-line
adverb
Examples of offline in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Boisvert then threw to second, trying to nail Goode on the play, but the throw was offline, and went to the wall in center, and allowed everyone to score for a 5-1 lead.
—Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2026
That number could balloon as Runway 4/22 stays offline into Saturday.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
So Match Group is pushing into offline events that encourage users to go for walks or dinners immediately after matching online, or to attend gatherings of other singles.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 22 May 2026
Federal courts charge by the page for filings while older state court records may be offline.
—Ellen Sheng, CNBC, 19 May 2026
Stay tuned for a look at offline and online modes before EA UFC 6 releases.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
But his throw was slightly offline, enabling Cardinals second baseman Thomas Saggese to score.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
The goal is to encourage mindfulness, reduce screen dependency and create more present, offline experiences.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
Some highlights include the Chargers going offline when their mascot is called out for not being real (the Chargers don’t have a mascot), and the Raiders’ mascot stalking quarterback Fernando Mendoza on LinkedIn during the ending clips.
—Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2026
That number could balloon as Runway 4/22 stays offline into Saturday.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
So Match Group is pushing into offline events that encourage users to go for walks or dinners immediately after matching online, or to attend gatherings of other singles.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 22 May 2026
Federal courts charge by the page for filings while older state court records may be offline.
—Ellen Sheng, CNBC, 19 May 2026
Stay tuned for a look at offline and online modes before EA UFC 6 releases.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
But his throw was slightly offline, enabling Cardinals second baseman Thomas Saggese to score.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
The goal is to encourage mindfulness, reduce screen dependency and create more present, offline experiences.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
Some highlights include the Chargers going offline when their mascot is called out for not being real (the Chargers don’t have a mascot), and the Raiders’ mascot stalking quarterback Fernando Mendoza on LinkedIn during the ending clips.
—Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offline. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
offline
adjective
off·line
ˈȯ-ˈflīn 
1
: not connected to or controlled by a computer
an offline printer
2
: not available (as for communication) especially by way of the Internet
she was offline all day
off-line
adverb
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