Standard Lemma guide

recidivate

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /rɪˈsɪdɪveɪt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To relapse into a previous pattern of behavior, especially to commit new offenses after having been punished or sanctioned for earlier ones.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: recidivize

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

go back to bad behavior

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Those who recidivate are often minor criminals

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: relapse, lapse, regress, retrogress, fall back

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: revert, return, retrovert, regress, turn back

History

Etymology

Adapted borrowing of Medieval Latin recidīvātus + -ate (verb-forming suffix), past participle of recidīvō, from Latin recidīvus (“returning, recurring”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). Compare French récidiver. By surface analysis, recidive + -ate

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: reincidir — return to criminal behaviour
  • French: récidiver — return to criminal behaviour