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offendera person who commits an illegal act or crime

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: a person who commits an illegal act or crime

Pronunciation (IPA): /əˈfendər/

Example Sentences

  • The serial offender was finally caught after stealing his 50th bicycle.
  • My cat is a repeat offender when it comes to knocking plants off the table.
  • The traffic offender had to pay a hefty fine for speeding.

offender

NOUN

[/əˈfendər/]

a person who commits an illegal act or crime

The police arrested the offender shortly after the robbery.
💡 Concept

The police arrested the offender shortly after the robbery.

The judge sentenced the offender after reviewing the evidence. (Offense + Person = Offender.)
🧠 Mnemonic

The judge sentenced the offender after reviewing the evidence. (Offense + Person = Offender.)

The offender was cornered by the defender and finally surrendered.
🎵 Rhyme

The offender was cornered by the defender and finally surrendered.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/əˈfendər/
🇬🇧 UK/əˈfendə(r)/

🌳Etymology

Rootoffend
Suffix--er

Origin

The word derives from Latin 'offendere', composed of 'ob-' (against) and 'fendere' (to strike). The original sense was 'to strike against' or 'to cause harm to', which evolved to mean 'to displease or violate' in later Latin and medieval usage.

Breakdown

ob- (against) + fend- (strike, from Latin fendere) + -er (agent noun, one who does). The suffix -er designates a person who commits the action of offending.

🎵Rhyme

defendertenderrender
defender
tender
render

🔗Collocations

repeat offender
first-time offender
juvenile offender
sex offender
violent offender
prosecute an offender

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

The serial offender was finally caught after stealing his 50th bicycle.

😄 Fun example

My cat is a repeat offender when it comes to knocking plants off the table.

The traffic offender had to pay a hefty fine for speeding.

He's a first-time offender, so the judge was lenient.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

criminalculpritperpetratorlawbreakerviolator

Antonyms

victimlaw-abiderinnocent

Related

offensedefendantprosecutorconviction

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