Definition

Someone who is distant and not friendly; they tend to keep to themselves and avoid social interactions.

Example

He seemed offish at the party, not wanting to talk to anyone.

Conversation

Have you noticed how offish Sarah has been lately?

Yeah, I thought it was just me feeling that way.

I wonder if something is bothering her.

Maybe she just needs some space to open up.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Offish → The word originates from the combination of 'off' (meaning away) and 'ish' (a suffix used to form adjectives indicating a quality or tendency). The term 'offish' describes someone who tends to be distant or aloof, as if they are keeping others at a distance.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who is 'away' ('off') and has a tendency ('-ish') to be distant or unfriendly. This helps you remember that 'offish' describes a person who is not very sociable.

Visually Confused Words