offender

/ə'fendə/

Thân thiện

A police officer apprehends the offender near a city park.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who breaks a law or rule: An "offender" is someone who commits an illegal act or violates a formal rule or law.
   • A person who causes displeasure or annoyance: An "offender" can also refer to someone who causes offense or upset, though this usage is less common.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The police arrested the offender. (The police arrested the person who committed the crime.)
  • Repeat offenders often face harsher penalties. (People who break the law multiple times often receive more severe punishments.)
  • He was the main offender in causing the argument. (He was the primary person responsible for starting the argument.)

Advanced Usage

• "First-time offender": A person who has been convicted of a crime for the first time.
  • The judge showed leniency to the first-time offender.
• "Juvenile offender": A young person, typically a minor, who commits a crime.
  • The program aims to rehabilitate juvenile offenders.
• "Sex offender": A person who has committed a crime of a sexual nature.
  • Laws require sex offenders to register their address.

Variants and Related Words

• Offend (verb): To break a law or rule; to cause upset or displeasure.
  • He did not mean to offend you with his comment.
• Offense (noun): A breach of a law or rule; an illegal act; also, the feeling of being upset or annoyed.
  • Driving under the influence is a serious offense.
• Offensive (adjective): Causing someone to feel upset or annoyed; also, relating to an attack in a conflict.
  • She found his remarks deeply offensive.

Synonyms

• Criminal: A person who has committed a crime.
• Lawbreaker: A person who violates the law.
• Delinquent: Typically a young person who commits minor crimes.
• Wrongdoer: A person who behaves illegally or immorally.

Related Phrases

• To bring an offender to justice: To ensure a person who committed a crime is arrested and tried in court.
  • It took years to bring the offender to justice.
• To deal with an offender: To manage or punish someone who has broken a rule or law.
  • The school has a clear policy for dealing with offenders.

Related Idioms

• No offense meant: Said to indicate that one does not intend to upset or insult someone.
  • I was just joking, no offense meant.
• Take offense: To become upset or insulted by something.
  • She tends to take offense at minor criticisms.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a person who transgresses moral or civil law

Từ đồng nghĩa

• wrongdoer