recidivist
|re/ci/di/vist|
/rɪˈsɪdɪvɪst/
falling back into wrongdoing
Etymology
'recidivist' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'recidivus', where 're-' meant 'back' and 'cadere' (root) meant 'to fall'.
'recidivus' changed into French 'récidiviste' in the 19th century and was adopted into English as 'recidivist'.
Initially, it meant 'falling back' or 'recurring', but over time it evolved into the current meaning of 'a person who reoffends (habitual offender)'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who repeatedly commits crimes and is convicted of them; a habitual offender.
The court labeled him a recidivist after his third conviction.
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Noun 2
someone who repeatedly returns to an undesirable behavior (not limited to crime), such as substance abuse or other relapses.
As a recidivist in drug-related offenses, she struggled to find employment.
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Last updated: 2025/09/27 10:56