Say backing away from offence is a shadowy area (5)
I believe the answer is:
umbra
'say' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both states of affairs as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for umbra that I've seen before include "Shade, or ghost" , "Dark region" , "Rumba (anag.)" , "Dark shadow cast by earth in eclipse" , "Black spot" .)