recidivist

noun

re·​cid·​i·​vist ri-ˈsi-də-vist 

: one who relapses

specifically : a habitual criminal

recidivist adjective

recidivistic

ri-ˌsi-də-ˈvi-stik 

adjective

Examples of recidivist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gerald Ford, who was President during the peak of the arson wave, publicly mentioned the Bronx just once, to go by the American Presidency Project, and that was to commend Merola’s office for locking up recidivists. —Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025

Swafford, described by police as a recidivist, was charged with Grand Larceny Auto, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle and Obstructing Governmental Administration. —Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2025

This graphic novel keeps the spirit of the Blues Brothers alive; mischievous recidivists, musical outlaws who above everything, care about the Blues. —Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025

Yet this seemingly entirely unnecessary act of recidivist safeguarding was how Tristan da Cunha came to be populated. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 23 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French récidiviste, 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") + -iste -ist entry 1 — more at recidivate

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for recidivist

• numismatist
• photoresist
• podiatrist
• positivist
• relativist
• theosophist
• ventriloquist
• assist
• blacklist
• booklist
• checklist
• consist

Medical Definition

recidivist

noun

re·​cid·​i·​vist -vəst 

: one who relapses into a previous behavior or condition

especially : a habitual criminal

recidivist adjective

recidivistic

-ˌsid-ə-ˈvis-tik 

adjective

Legal Definition

recidivist

noun

re·​cid·​i·​vist ri-ˈsi-də-vist 

: an habitual criminal

recidivist adjective

recidivistic

ri-ˌsi-də-ˈvis-tik 

adjective