noun
- a person who repeatedly commits crimes or returns to criminal behavior after being punished
Usage: legal
adjective
- relating to or characterized by repeated criminal behavior
Usage: legal
Examples
- The judge sentenced the recidivist to a longer prison term.
- Prison reform programs aim to reduce recidivist behavior.
- Statistics show that recidivist rates vary by type of crime.
- The recidivist had been arrested five times in two years.
- Rehabilitation programs help prevent offenders from becoming recidivists.
- The court reviewed the defendant’s recidivist history before sentencing.