Main Entry: re·cid·i·vist

Pronunciation: \-vist\

Function: noun

Etymology: French récidiviste, from récidiver to relapse, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin recidivare, from Latin recidivus recurring, from recidere to fall back, from re- + cadere to fall — more at chance

Date: 1880

: one who relapses; specifically : a habitual criminal

— recidivist adjective

— re·cid·i·vis·tic \-ˌsi-də-ˈvis-tik\ adjective