Scofflaw: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Scofflaw noun. A person who habitually flouts the law, especially small laws.
How to say it
SKOF-law/ˈskɒflɔː/
2 syllables, stressed on the first (SKOF). Forms: scofflaws.
Scofflaw in a sentence
The city towed cars belonging to scofflaws with dozens of unpaid tickets.
My brother, a cycling scofflaw, treats red lights as suggestions.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- lawbreaker
- offender
- delinquent
Where scofflaw comes from
American, coined in 1924 in a contest to name people who drank in defiance of Prohibition.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
My brother, a cycling _____, treats red lights as suggestions.
- scofflaw
- contraband
- perjury
Show the answer
scofflaw: My brother, a cycling scofflaw, treats red lights as suggestions.