'reoffender' originates from English, specifically formed from the prefix 're-' (from Latin 're-' meaning 'again') + the verb 'offend' (from Latin 'offendere'), with the agentive suffix '-er'.

'offend' comes from Latin 'offendere', passed into Old French as 'offendre', then into Middle English as 'offenden' and eventually became modern English 'offend'; the prefix 're-' was added to make 'reoffend', and the agentive suffix '-er' produced 'reoffender'.

Initially, Latin 'offendere' meant 'to strike against' or 'to meet', and over time its meaning shifted to 'to transgress or violate (a law or moral rule)'; 'reoffender' came to mean 'one who offends again'.