lawbreaker

19:29 Jul 22, 2004
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Law/Patents - Law (general)
English term or phrase: lawbreaker
looking for another way to say law breaker in English (trasgesor del ley)
Marie P.


SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +13law offender, violator
Vicky Papaprodromou
4 +4Transgressor, offender, malefactor, criminal
humbird
5 +1offender
Paul Dixon
4 +1perpetrator
jccantrell
3 +1criminal
María Teresa Taylor Oliver
1one who violates the law
Jonathan MacKerron


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +13
law offender, violator


Explanation:
- OXFORD CONCISE DICTIONARY
- WORDWEB

Vicky Papaprodromou
Greece
Local time: 12:10
Native speaker of: Native in GreekGreek

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  swisstell: yes, also per www.hyperdictionary.com thesaurus
1 min
  -> Thanks, Erich! How often do you go to New Smyrna Beach? Is it hot in Florida right now?

agree  Elena Petelos: I am definitely....not!! jejejeejejejeje :-)) Work until the end of August..............laalallaala+too hot for me at home........
1 min
  -> Thanks, Elena! Are you coming home for the Games or not?

agree  David Hollywood: in the US "violater" works well , otherwise I would simply say "offender"
4 mins
  -> Thanks, David!

agree  Iolanta Vlaykova Paneva
8 mins
  -> Thanks, Yolanta!

agree  Ltemes
19 mins
  -> Thanks!

agree  Alexander Demyanov
19 mins
  -> Thanks!

agree  Jörgen Slet
1 hr
  -> Thanks!

agree  Nanny Wintjens
5 hrs
  -> Thanks!

agree  Eva Karpouzi
5 hrs
  -> Thanks, Eva!

agree  Asghar Bhatti
7 hrs
  -> Ôhanks!

agree  Ramesh Madhavan
8 hrs
  -> Thanks!

agree  Alfa Trans (X): /sti Thessaloniki den fisai, sta nisia panda fisai.Den xero akoma, mipos thartho...
9 hrs
  -> It has been burning hot here for the last two days. You are lucky you have left. Are you coming for the Games?

agree  Christian
11 hrs
  -> Thanks!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
criminal


Explanation:
As in "delincuente", because "crime" in English is less harsh than "crimen" in Spanish...

Just an option.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2004-07-22 19:35:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

delincuente sustantivo masculino y femenino
criminal
delincuente común common criminal
delincuente habitual habitual offender
delincuente juvenil juvenile delinquent


transgressor
transgress [trænz\'grɛs]
verb
1 to break (a law, rule, etc.)
2 to go beyond or overstep (a limit)
[ETYMOLOGY: 16th Century: from Latin transgredi, from trans- + gradi to step]
trans\'gressive adjective
trans\'gressively adverb(ial)
trans\'gressor noun


María Teresa Taylor Oliver
Panama
Local time: 05:10
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Elena Petelos: Si! Exacto. /Jejejeje....griegaaaa :-)
1 min
  -> Gracias, Elena :)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
one who violates the law


Explanation:
might work

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 mins (2004-07-22 19:32:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

offender / delinquant / miscreant / wrongdoer / reprobate

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 mins (2004-07-22 19:32:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

the US administration for example

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2004-07-22 19:38:43 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

law-breaker

Jonathan MacKerron
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 24
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

55 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
offender


Explanation:
The best in my opinion - "criminal" has a definite ring of negativity to it, would only be used for serious crimes. I would call a rapist or a serial killer a "criminal", but someone convicted of a driving offence would be an "offender".
We also have the word "outlaw", although a bit dated now, except as a verb: to outlaw something.

Paul Dixon
Brazil
Local time: 07:10
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  sarahl (X)
22 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
perpetrator


Explanation:
Police shows on TV always talk about the 'perp'

Scofflaw is one who is continuosly guilty of minor infractions, such as parking violations, etc.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 5 mins (2004-07-22 20:35:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

check this out:

http://www.wordspy.com/words/corporateperpwalk.asp



jccantrell
United States
Local time: 03:10
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jörgen Slet
1 hr
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
Transgressor, offender, malefactor, criminal


Explanation:
Major difference between those words is whether the lawbreaker is brought to the law. Last one is more like those who are convicted by the court of law (which means the judge said he/she committed a crime, so has to go jail). Other three could be those who are not so formally declared, but people know pretty much he/she has broken the law.
This notion may be very different from country to country. I am talking strictly about American situation. Here in the USA you never been a criminal until the court say so.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs 35 mins (2004-07-22 22:05:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Another thought of clarification -- \"lawbreaker\" is a loose notion. It includes those who are apprehended and prosecuted (by judicial order), and those who are getting away with them and walking freely (without getting caught). So it is asker\'s job which one the author (of the original article or whatever) is talking about.

humbird
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Orla Ryan
13 mins
  -> Much appreciated, Orla.

agree  Aisha Maniar
1 hr
  -> Thank you Aisha!

agree  Jörgen Slet
1 hr
  -> Thank you!

agree  María Teresa Taylor Oliver: That is such an interesting explanation :) Thank you! Yes, it is, María Teresa is a compound name (composite? don't know how to say it!) :)
7 hrs
  -> Thank you Maria. Is Teresa a part of your first name? I'm just curious.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search