lawbreaker

noun

law·​break·​er ˈlȯ-ˌbrā-kər How to pronounce lawbreaker (audio)
: a person who violates the law
lawbreaking adjective or noun

Examples of lawbreaker in a Sentence

He admitted to being a lawbreaker. legislation that mandates lengthy prison sentences for chronic lawbreakers
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The union leadership tried to broker a deal with Hochul, but that was ignored. Republicans serving in Congress and the state Legislature, who always tout law and order, shamelessly sided with the lawbreakers. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025 President @realDonaldTrump has delivered a powerful message and the world is taking notice: America's borders are CLOSED to lawbreakers. Mandy Taheri, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025 Prosecutors complained that the former district attorney kneecapped their ability to go after lawbreakers. Barnini Chakraborty, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Jan. 2025 The exception is his pardoning of violent Jan. 6 lawbreakers. George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 23 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lawbreaker

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lawbreaker was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Lawbreaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lawbreaker. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

lawbreaker

noun
law·​break·​er ˈlȯ-ˌbrā-kər How to pronounce lawbreaker (audio)
: a person who breaks the law
lawbreaking adjective or noun

More from Merriam-Webster on lawbreaker

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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