scofflaw

[ skawf-law, skof- ]

noun

1. a person who flouts the law, especially one who fails to pay fines owed.
2. a person who flouts rules, conventions, or accepted practices.

scofflaw

/ ˈskɒflɔː /

noun

1. informal.
   a person who habitually flouts or violates the law, esp one who fails to pay debts or answer summonses

Word History and Origins

Origin of scofflaw¹

First recorded in 1920–25; scoff ¹ + law ¹

Example Sentences

Sure, there was some early resistance, and even now you see a few scofflaws on the subway.

From Time

Members of Congress received more furious letters about the tax scofflaws that year than they did about the Vietnam War.

From ProPublica

Related Words

• blackmailer
• criminal
• crook
• culprit
• delinquent
• felon
• fugitive
• gangster
• hoodlum
• hooligan
• mobster
• offender
• racketeer