Offender — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ə-ˈfend/ of·fend

Meaning & Definition of Offender

Offender (verb)

  1. to transgress the moral or divine law, sin
  2. to violate a law or rule, do wrong
  3. to cause difficulty, discomfort, or injury

Offender (noun)

  1. one convicted of an offense for the first time
  2. a person who has been convicted of a crime involving sex
  3. a young offender (such as a runaway or a truant) who is under the jurisdiction of a court for repeated offenses that are not crimes
  4. a person who has committed a crime more than once
  5. a criminal who is under the age of 18

Offender (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person who has committed a crime

    "juvenile offenders have their criminal records sealed when they turn 18"

    similar: criminal, crook, culprit, lawbreaker, malefactor, miscreant
    related: misdemeanant, accomplice, principal, desperado, outlaw, convict, jailbird, perp, perpetrator, evildoer, gallows bird, misdoer, misfeasor, sinner, transgressor, trespasser, villain, wrongdoer, blackhander, button man, gangster, hoodlum, hooligan, mobster, racketeer, thug, enforcer, gun, gunman, gunsel (slang), hit man, triggerman, backslider, recidivist, relapser, repeater, accused, arrestee, defendant, detainee, fish, suspect
    near: gangbuster, lawman

Related Entry: Offend (verb)

Offend is a different word from Offender. The synonyms below are for offend, not for offender.

  1. to commit an offense

    "since this is the first time you've offended, we'll let you off lightly"

    similar: err, fall, sin, stray, transgress, trespass, wander, break the law, fall from grace
    related: breach, break, infringe, violate, backslide, lapse, mess up
    near: forgive, justify, pardon, regret, repent, rue

  2. to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in

    "the visitor unintentionally offended his hosts terribly by failing to compliment them on the elaborately prepared meal"

    similar: affront, dis (slang), disrespect, insult, outrage, slap, slight, wound
    related: cut, snub, displease, distress, disturb, hurt, miff, pain, trouble, upset, jeer, mock, ridicule, sneer (at), taunt, defame, disparage, libel, malign, revile, slander, slur, smear, oppress, persecute, torment, torture
    near: acclaim, applaud, approve, hail, commend, compliment, eulogize, praise, adulate, flatter, sweet-talk, exalt, glorify, honor, delight, gratify, please, satisfy

  3. to fail to keep

    "offended conventional standards of uniformity by not adhering to the company dress code"

    similar: breach, break, contravene, fracture, infringe (on or upon), traduce, transgress, violate
    related: disobey, rebel, blow off, brush (off), disregard, flout, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, tune out, wink (at), dismiss, pooh-pooh, scorn, shrug off, defy, resist, withstand
    opposite: comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey, observe
    near: defer (to), serve, submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to), attend, hear, heed, listen (to), mark, note, notice, regard, watch

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Offender

The most common words with a similar meaning to Offender:

criminal, crook, culprit, lawbreaker, malefactor, miscreant

Related Words for Offender

misdemeanant, accomplice, principal, desperado, outlaw, convict, jailbird, perp, perpetrator, evildoer, gallows bird, misdoer, misfeasor, sinner, transgressor, trespasser, villain, wrongdoer, blackhander, button man, gangster, hoodlum, hooligan, mobster, racketeer, thug, enforcer, gun, gunman, gunsel

Near Antonyms of Offender

gangbuster, lawman

Word Forms of Offender

Inflections: offended, offending, offends

Derived words: offender (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Offender

Middle English offenden "to assail, violate, displease, hurt the feelings of," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French offendre, borrowed from Latin offendere "to strike against, stumble (upon), trouble, break a rule, displease, annoy," from of-, assimilated variant of ob- ob- + -fendere presumably, "to strike, hit" (unattested without prefixes) defend

First known use: 14th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Offender

Words & Phrases Containing Offender

first offender, sex offender, status offender, repeat offender, young offender

Frequently Asked Questions about Offender

What does "Offender" mean?

"Offender" means to transgress the moral or divine law, sin. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to transgress the moral or divine law, sin.

What is another word for "Offender"?

Other words for "Offender" include criminal, crook, culprit, lawbreaker, malefactor and miscreant. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Offender" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Offender"?

There are 48 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Offender". Common alternatives include criminal, crook, culprit, lawbreaker, malefactor and miscreant.

How do you use "Offender" in a sentence?

Examples of "Offender" in a sentence: "juvenile offenders have their criminal records sealed when they turn 18".

Is "Offender" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Offender" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Offender" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Offender" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Offender"?

"Offender" is pronounced /ə-ˈfend/ and divided into syllables as of·fend.

What is the origin of the word "Offender"?

"Offender" comes from Middle English offenden "to assail, violate, displease, hurt the feelings of," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French offendre, borrowed from Latin offendere "to strike against, stumble (upon), trouble, break a rule, displease, annoy," from of-, assimilated variant of ob- ob- + -fendere presumably, "to strike, hit" (unattested without prefixes) defend. First known use: 14th centuryi.