transgressor

[ trans-gres-er, tranz- ]

noun

1. someone or something that transgresses, violating a law or command or going beyond a boundary or limit:

   Although not specifically illegal, promoters could sue transgressors for breach of contract if filming is forbidden by the ticket's terms.

Word History and Origins

Origin of transgressor¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Anglo-French, from Latin, equivalent to transgress ( def ) + -or ²( def )

Example Sentences

When Medina, with his camera in hand, encountered one, the unsuspecting transgressor was fully masked — and brandishing a thundering chainsaw.

From New York Times

She mimicked the emotions she lacked to fit into a world where novels and films tended to depict sociopaths as violent and soulless transgressors treading the fringes.

From Los Angeles Times

Unified as one transgressor, probably one among many.

From Los Angeles Times

Additionally, government amnesties for shoddy construction allowed transgressors to pay fines rather than tear down or fix dangerous buildings.

From Seattle Times

Contrary to prevalent wisdom that ingroup members always judge other ingroup members more favorably than outgroup members, they found that people made harsher moral judgments against the ingroup transgressor.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• convict
• crook
• culprit
• felon
• fugitive
• gangster
• hoodlum
• hooligan
• lawbreaker
• mobster
• offender
• thug