repeat offender
A 'repeat offender' is commonly discussed in criminal justice contexts to describe individuals who continue to break the law after previous offenses.
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Definition
C1Criminal Justice
(formal)An individual who commits the same or similar crime multiple times.
Example
- The judge showed no leniency towards the repeat offender due to his extensive criminal record.
- Efforts are being made to reduce the number of repeat offenders through rehabilitation programs.
B2General
(informal)Someone who repeatedly engages in a particular undesirable action.
Example
- He's a repeat offender when it comes to missing deadlines.
- The dog is a repeat offender for digging up the garden.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "repeat offender":