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scofflaw

American  
[skawf-law, skof-] / ˈskɔfˌlɔ, ˈskɒf- /

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 British  
/ ˈskɒflɔː /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of scofflaw

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This means the scofflaw company can profitably expand while the complying company cannot, putting honest taxpayers at a competitive disadvantage.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 2, 2025

“Under Musk’s control, Twitter has become a scofflaw, stiffing employees, landlords, vendors, and others,” says the lawsuit, filed in federal court in the Northern District of California.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 4, 2024

A California scofflaw: What will happen to David Hoffman and his property in Marin County?

From New York Times • Oct. 8, 2022

Like the majority of people in this law-abiding country, Vize had little sympathy for the superstar scofflaw but also believed Australia’s government had tried to exploit the situation, only to make a mess of it.

From Washington Post • Jan. 17, 2022

In all truth, these talented, hardworking, law-abiding, mature, adult people are far more disturbing to the peace and order of the current status quo than any scofflaw group of romantic teenage punk kids.

From The Hacker Crackdown, law and disorder on the electronic frontier by Sterling, Bruce

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