RECIDIVIST

[ rɪ'sɪdɪvɪst ]

■ noun a convicted criminal who reoffends.

Derivatives

recidivism noun

~ic adjective

Origin

C19: from Fr. récidiviste , from récidiver 'fall back', based on L. recidivus , recidere 'fall back', from re- 'back' + cadere 'to fall'.