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.”
Example Sentences
Emma Tucker, CNN, 4 Sep. 2022 Advocates of the bill argue that the lack of access to employment and housing is what drives recidivism rates and restricts California’s economic development. Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022 The policy, known as Title 42, gives U.S. agents a quick way to return migrants, but CBP officials acknowledge a spike in recidivism rates because there is no punishment or threat of jail for repeat crossing attempts. Washington Post, 8 July 2022 Given high recidivism rates and rising incarceration rates in rural counties, the farm offers valuable lessons for other reentry programs. Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 July 2022 The high recidivism rate, which stood at 22% in July, has contributed to unprecedented levels of migrant arrests recorded over the past year. Camilo Montoya-galvez, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2022 Frescobaldi knew the grim recidivism rate in the Italian prison system—85 percent. Sara L. Schneider, Robb Report, 20 June 2022 The recidivism rate dropped to 3% for people 60 and older, the study found. Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 18 June 2022 Border Patrol has recorded a 27% recidivism rate so far this fiscal year, compared to a 7% rate in fiscal year 2019, before the pandemic. Camilo Montoya-galvez, CBS News, 20 May 2022 See More Word History
borrowed from French récidivisme, from récidiver "to reappear (of a disease, tumor, etc.), do over, commit a second criminal offense" (going back to Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin recidīvāre "to relapse into sin or crime") + -isme -ism — more at recidivate
1884, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
recidivism
noun
A. E. Kazdin et al. Legal Definition
recidivism
noun