recidivist

noun

re·cid·i·vist ri-ˈsi-də-vist

Synonyms of recidivist next

: one who relapses

specifically : a habitual criminal

recidivist adjective

recidivistic

ri-ˌsi-də-ˈvi-stik

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Nicolas Cage’s recidivist criminal tries to go straight after marrying cop Holly Hunter. —

Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2023 Today’s hearing, the first of several designed to probe the events of that day and dispel lies about what happened, is a good opportunity to highlight some of the recidivist firms who have no problem backing politicians willing to strip away Americans’ right to vote. —

Tim Fernholz, Quartz, 27 July 2021 Put simply, Wells Fargo is a corporate recidivist that puts one third of American households at risk of harm. —

Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2022 Police sources described her as a recidivist who had just been arrested Dec. 8. —

Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 19 Dec. 2022 In 2020 Purdue Pharma pled guilty again in court, this time to three felonies, thus becoming a recidivist offender. —

Ed Bisch, STAT, 18 July 2022 As a recidivist the penalty likely would be more severe. —

Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 June 2022 Being cast out by society is all that Hans — a recidivist if ever there was one — seems to have known. —

Washington Post, 20 Apr. 2022 In the 1980s, Goodmark said research came out that said arrest was likely to decrease recidivist violence. —

Alia E. Dastagir, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recidivist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French récidiviste, 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") + -iste -ist entry 1 — more at recidivate

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of recidivist was in 1867

See more words from the same year