Definition of "recidivate" []

• To return to a previous pattern of behavior, especially to return to criminal habits. (verb-intransitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "If we invest in providing education and training to those at risk of becoming or remaining criminals, the chance that they will recidivate goes down exponentially with each grade level completed."
• "Those old ladies in the story are unlikely to recidivate."
• "They must pay for these classes and take whiz quizzes to make sure they remain on the path of righteousness and not recidivate back into the dangerous world of marijuana abuse."