recidivist

From French récidiviste, from Latin recidīvus (“returning, recurring”). Compare recidivous, -ist.

• (weak vowel distinction) IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈsɪdɪvɪst/
• (weak vowel merger) IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈsɪdəvɪst/

recidivist (plural recidivists)

1. One who falls back into prior habits, especially criminal habits.

   Synonym: repeat offender

   • 1914, R. Austin Freeman, chapter 2, in The Uttermost Farthing:

     This specimen was of English parentage, was a professional burglar, a confirmed recidivist, and—since he habitually carried firearms—a potential homicide.

   • 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Quarians: Law and Defense Codex entry:

     Persistent recidivists are "accidentally" left on the next habitable world. This practice of abandoning criminals on other people's planets is a point of friction between the quarians and the systems they pass through. Captains rarely have another choice; with space and resources at a premium, supporting a non-productive prison population is not an option.

• recidivistic

Borrowed from French récidiviste.

recidivist m (plural recidiviști)

1. recidivist