first offender

noun

: one convicted of an offense for the first time

Examples of first offender in a Sentence

Because he was a first offender, he was put on probation rather than sentenced to jail.

Recent Examples on the Web

Only about roughly 7 percent of declinations are at prosecutors’ discretion, almost all involving would-be first offenders accused of misdemeanor violations, Graves said. —Emily Davies, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024

However, a first offender for physical contact with an official can be fined $37,232 and a first offender for verbal or other non-physical offense against an official can be fined $29,795. —Mark Inabinett | [e-mail], al, 16 Dec. 2022

If the legislation becomes law, first offenders could be convicted of a misdemeanor and face up to one year in jail and a fine of more than $6,000. —oregonlive, 23 Feb. 2023

Instead, the likely sentence for a first offender is a fine and probation, possibly with orders to perform community service and get counseling to avoid a recurrence. —Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Jan. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

first offender

noun

: one convicted of an offense for the first time