recidivism

noun

re·​cid·​i·​vism ri-ˈsi-də-ˌvi-zəm 

: a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior

especially : relapse into criminal behavior

Did you know?

The re- in recidivism is the same re- in relapse and return, and like those words recidivism is about going back: it’s a tendency to relapse, especially into criminal behavior. Recidivism is a 19th century French borrowing that’s ultimately from a Latin word meaning “to relapse into sin or crime.” In borrowing recidivism, English was itself engaging in a kind of recidivism: the same Latin source of recidivism had been nabbed in the 16th century to form the much less common recidivate, meaning “to fall into or exhibit recidivism.”

Examples of recidivism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The judges’ other responsibilities include meeting with law enforcement and recidivism groups including mental health provider ReDiscover and the Kansas City Organized Retail Crime Association; hiring and managing court staff; and regularly meeting with jail staff and police. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 12 Nov. 2025

McCalister wanted to tackle recidivism by helping returning citizens reintegrate back into society, lower auto insurance and property taxes and attract investments and workforce training. —Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 5 Nov. 2025

Ferrara’s arrival in New York City and subsequent entry into the movie business is presented as something like a case of recidivism, a dive from suburban gentility into the cauldron of steaming garbage that was Fun City–era Manhattan. —Nick Pinkerton, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

Republicans and Democrats alike see value in reducing the recidivism rate, improving public safety, saving taxpayer money and strengthening workforce development. —Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French récidivisme, from récidiver "to reappear (of a disease, tumor, etc.), do over, commit a second criminal offense" (going back to Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin recidīvāre "to relapse into sin or crime") + -isme -ism — more at recidivate

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for recidivism

• activism
• ageism
• albinism
• altruism
• aneurism
• animism
• aphorism
• atomism
• barbarism
• bolshevism
• botulism
• brahmanism

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Medical Definition

recidivism

noun

re·​cid·​i·​vism ri-ˈsid-ə-ˌviz-əm 

: a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior

high recidivism rates after cessation of smoking

—A. E. Kazdin et al.

Legal Definition

recidivism

noun

re·​cid·​i·​vism ri-ˈsi-də-ˌvi-zəm 

: relapse into criminal behavior