English edit

Etymology edit

From French récidiviste, from Latin recidīvus (returning, recurring). Compare recidivous, -ist.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

recidivist (plural recidivists)

  1. One who falls back into prior habits, especially criminal habits.
    Synonym: repeat offender
    • 1914, R. Austin Freeman, chapter 2, in The Uttermost Farthing:
      This specimen was of English parentage, was a professional burglar, a confirmed recidivist, and—since he habitually carried firearms—a potential homicide.
    • 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Quarians: Law and Defense Codex entry:
      Persistent recidivists are "accidentally" left on the next habitable world. This practice of abandoning criminals on other people's planets is a point of friction between the quarians and the systems they pass through. Captains rarely have another choice; with space and resources at a premium, supporting a non-productive prison population is not an option.

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

Romanian edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from French récidiviste.

Noun edit

recidivist m (plural recidiviști)

  1. recidivist

Declension edit