word

Recidivism

reh-SID-ih-viz-um

/rɪˈsɪdɪvɪzəm/

Listen

Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.

Syllable breakdown

recidivism

Dictionary meaning

The tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend; measured by the rate at which released offenders are rearrested, reconvicted, or reincarcerated within a defined period after release

Examples

The state's new reentry programme reduced recidivism by 30% by providing housing and employment assistance to released prisoners.
High recidivism rates are often cited as evidence that incarceration alone fails to address the root causes of criminal behaviour.

Synonyms: reoffending, relapse into crime, repeat offending

Pronunciation tips

Five syllables; stress the second; the '-vism' ending rhymes with 'schism'; do not say ree-SID-ih-viz-um with a long first vowel

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