recidivist

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/rɪˈsɪdɪvɪst/US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/rɪˈsɪdəvɪst/


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
re•cid•i•vist /rɪˈsɪdəvɪst/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. a person who relapses, esp. one who commits crimes time after time.

adj. 
  1. of or relating to such a person.
See -cide-.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
re•cid•i•vism /rɪˈsɪdəˌvɪzəm/USA pronunciation   n. [uncountable]
  1. repeated falling back into bad habits.
See -cide-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
re•cid•i•vism  (ri sid′ə viz′əm),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. repeated or habitual relapse, as into crime.
  2. Psychiatrythe chronic tendency toward repetition of criminal or antisocial behavior patterns.
  • Latin recidīv(us) relapsing (recid(ere) to fall back (re- re- + -cidere, combining form of cadere to fall) + -īvus -ive) + -ism
  • 1885–90
re•cid′i•vist, n., adj. 
re•cid′i•vis′tic, re•cid′i•vous, adj. 

'recidivist' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
repeater

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