recidivism
noun
Did you know?
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
Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2025
This includes participating in specific programs like one focused on reducing recidivism and receiving time for good behavior while in prison.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 22 Jan. 2025
Creating the Handgun Intervention Program, which diverts first-time juvenile gun offenders from incarceration, and the Restorative Justice Program to lower recidivism rates.
—Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
The recidivism rate for RTA alums is less than three percent.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for recidivism 
Dictionary Entries Near recidivism
Cite this Entry
“Recidivism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recidivism. Accessed 7 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
recidivism
noun
A. E. Kazdin et al.Legal Definition
recidivism
noun
Share