recidivism

noun

re·​cid·​i·​vism ri-ˈsi-də-ˌvi-zəm 

: a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior

especially : relapse into criminal behavior

Did you know?

The re- in recidivism is the same re- in relapse and return, and like those words recidivism is about going back: it’s a tendency to relapse, especially into criminal behavior. Recidivism is a 19th century French borrowing that’s ultimately from a Latin word meaning “to relapse into sin or crime.” In borrowing recidivism, English was itself engaging in a kind of recidivism: the same Latin source of recidivism had been nabbed in the 16th century to form the much less common recidivate, meaning “to fall into or exhibit recidivism.”

Examples of recidivism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, inmates would have the option to spend their time participating in rehabilitation programs, which proponents say would reduce recidivism. —Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024

These evaluations often lead to sentences that include mental health care, trauma counseling or substance abuse treatment — measures that can reduce recidivism and create healthier communities. —Sonia Singh, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2024

Books, said Matthay, connect an extremely isolated population to the wider world, give them new skills and can potentially reduce recidivism. —Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 2 Oct. 2024

Most criminologists agree that charging and sentencing juveniles as adults has not been shown to reduce recidivism. —Lizzie Presser, ProPublica, 28 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French récidivisme, 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") + -isme -ism — more at recidivate

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Medical Definition

recidivism

noun

re·​cid·​i·​vism ri-ˈsid-ə-ˌviz-əm 

: a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior

high recidivism rates after cessation of smoking

—A. E. Kazdin et al.

Legal Definition

recidivism

noun

re·​cid·​i·​vism ri-ˈsi-də-ˌvi-zəm 

: relapse into criminal behavior