One word for 'a person who openly ignores or breaks a law'

A scofflaw is a person who openly ignores or breaks a law, especially one that most people are expected to follow. In simple terms, it describes someone who treats rules with disrespect and acts as if they don’t apply to them.

The word is less common in everyday speech, but it appears often in news reports, opinion writing, and legal or political commentary, particularly when talking about repeated or deliberate lawbreaking.

A scofflaw usually refers to someone who knowingly violates laws, such as traffic rules, tax regulations, or public safety orders. It is not used for accidental mistakes—it suggests a choice to ignore the law. The tone of the word is clearly negative, as it criticizes irresponsible or defiant behavior.


The word is a noun. It originated in the United States during the Prohibition era in the 1920s and was created from the words scoff (to mock) and law, literally meaning “someone who mocks the law.”

Example sentences:

• The city cracked down on parking scofflaws who repeatedly ignored fines.
• During Prohibition, alcohol scofflaws continued to run illegal bars.
• Officials warned that tax scofflaws could face serious penalties.
• The article criticized polluting companies as environmental scofflaws.
• Habitual traffic scofflaws put other drivers at risk.
• The mayor promised tougher action against scofflaws who break public safety rules.

In real-life use, scofflaw often appears in headlines, editorials, and official statements, especially when authorities or journalists want to call out repeated lawbreakers in a sharp but formal way.

In short, a scofflaw is someone who deliberately ignores the law, and the word is commonly used to highlight behavior that is reckless, defiant, or socially irresponsible.