recidivism
noun
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The re- in recidivism is the same re- in relapse and return, and like those words recidivism is about going back: it’s a tendency to relapse, especially into criminal behavior. Recidivism is a 19th century French borrowing that’s ultimately from a Latin word meaning “to relapse into sin or crime.” In borrowing recidivism, English was itself engaging in a kind of recidivism: the same Latin source of recidivism had been nabbed in the 16th century to form the much less common recidivate, meaning “to fall into or exhibit recidivism.”
Examples of recidivism in a Sentence
JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
The program includes classes ranging from sign language to therapy to coding, intending to reduce recidivism
In the San Quentin prison yard, most inmates are serving life sentences, many for committing serious crimes.
—Gianna Toboni, CBS News, 21 June 2024
The problem was related to what at the time was a high recidivism rate in Maryland – that is, the percentage of inmates who returned to the Division of Corrections within three years of their release from prison.
—Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 18 June 2024
Less than 3% of RTA members return to prison vs the national recidivism rate of 60%.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 17 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for recidivism 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recidivism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Recidivism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recidivism. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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recidivism
noun
A. E. Kazdin et al.Legal Definition
recidivism
noun
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