Offender: meaning, definitions and examples

Used generally to describe someone who has violated a law or rule. It is often a neutral term and can be used for minor or serious infractions.

• The first-time offender received a light sentence.
• Community service is often given to minor offenders.

Refers to someone who has committed a crime, typically serious crimes. The term carries a more severe and negative connotation.

• The criminal was sentenced to ten years in prison.
• He has a criminal record for burglary.

A broad and somewhat formal term for someone who breaks laws. It can be used for both minor and serious offenses.

• Lawbreakers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
• The lawbreaker was caught speeding in a school zone.

Often used to describe a young person, typically a minor, who regularly engages in illegal or unethical activities. It's sometimes used in a less formal context.

• The school aims to rehabilitate young delinquents.
• He was labeled a delinquent by the authorities for his repeated offenses.

Used in a general sense for someone who has committed a crime or offense. It has a neutral tone and can apply to various types of unlawful activities.

• The police caught the offender shortly after the robbery
• First-time offenders might receive a lighter sentence

Specifically used to describe someone who breaches a specific law, rule, or protocol. It carries a clear connotation of breaking a formal code or agreement and has a serious tone.

• Parking violators will be fined
• The company faced penalties for being environmental violators

Often used in more formal, moral, or religious contexts to indicate someone who has violated a rule, law, or commandment. It has a formal and serious tone.

• In the old days, transgressors were severely punished for their actions
• He was labeled a transgressor for breaking the city’s strict regulations

Typically used to refer to a person responsible for a specific misdeed or problem, often in a somewhat more casual or lighter tone. It can also be used informally for objects causing issues.

• The culprit behind the missing cookies was the family dog
• The main culprit for the delay is the broken machine

General term for a person who commits a crime or breaks a rule. Can be used in both legal and informal settings.

• The police caught the offender within hours.
• The school has a detention policy for first-time offenders.

Describes someone who commits immoral or illegal acts. It has a moralistic tone and is typically used in discussions about ethics and justice.

• The court is determined to bring the wrongdoer to justice.
• Society tends to judge wrongdoers harshly.

A more formal and slightly old-fashioned term, usually implying a person has committed serious crimes or evil deeds. Typically used in historical or dramatic contexts.

• The sheriff finally caught the notorious malefactor who had terrorized the town.
• Literature often glorifies the downfall of the malefactor.

Often used to describe someone responsible for a specific wrongdoing, typically in a more informal tone. It can also refer to the cause of a problem.

• After an investigation, they identified the culprit behind the vandalism.
• High sugar intake is often the culprit for weight gain.