offender

of-fend-er · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A person who commits an illegal act or breaks a rule.

  2. 2.

    A person or thing that causes offense or is responsible for something negative.

Forms

plural: offenders

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    first-time offender — Someone who has committed a crime for the first time
  • •
    repeat offender — Someone who has committed crimes multiple times
  • •
    sex offender — A person who has committed a sexual crime
  • •
    young offender — A juvenile criminal

Related words

See also: criminal, culprit, offend, offense
Synonyms: criminal, culprit, lawbreaker, transgressor, wrongdoer

Etymology

From Latin offendere ("to strike against, offend") + English agent suffix -er.