Meaning & use
offender
Last updated
a person who commits an illegal act or breaks a rule.
See it in a sentence
The judge sentenced the offender to community service instead of jail time.
Repeat offenders often face harsher penalties than first-time ones.
A note on using this word
Often used in legal and criminal-justice contexts, but it can describe anyone who breaks a rule, not just serious criminals.
Words with a similar meaning
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