offender

[uh-fen-der]

noun

1. someone who has violated a criminal, religious, or moral law.

   The program aids individuals already in the criminal justice system and is geared toward nonviolent offenders.

2. a person or thing that irritates, annoys, or angers.

   Some of us tried to take matters into our own hands by confronting the noise pollution offenders, but they were entirely unwilling to quiet down.

3. something that is disagreeable.

   If you’re curious about the odor, I’m afraid you’ll find that the offender is a catbox that has not been emptied recently.

Other Word Forms

• nonoffender noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of offender¹

offend ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

The government says it wants to send fewer non-violent offenders on short sentences to prison.

Read more on BBC

"But delivery is key: farmers need visible policing, swift recovery of stolen equipment and sentencing that deters repeat offenders," she added.

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A spokesperson added: "In the new year we will publish an ambitious Fraud Strategy, which will reduce fraud, target offenders and protect victims."

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Yet groups that have researched pesticide enforcement say the state of California is not using its powers to fine repeat offenders for safety violations — and hold them accountable.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It took 14 months from her last theft before she was sentenced to 32 months in a young offenders' institution, after pleading guilty to 18 charges of theft.

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Related Words

• convict 
• criminal 
• culprit 
• delinquent 
• felon 
• lawbreaker 
• suspect