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

Time after time after time, Post was released on bail before June 9 because our bail system fails to address recidivists. —Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2024

The attack comes less than four months after another recidivist criminal was accused of stabbing two teen sisters visiting New York from Paraguay at Grand Central on Christmas morning. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2024

Among the violations when recidivist Saveur made this list back in November: employees washing their hands by dipping them in a bucket of bleach and water then returning to food preparation. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 31 May 2024

Overall numbers on recidivist crimes are hard to establish because the Russian government restricts the release of any public information that puts the war in a bad light. —Milana Mazaeva, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024

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

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