Noun
- One who habitually violates minor laws, rules, conventions or accepted practices.
- One who fails to answer trivial court summonses.
Pronunciations
- /ˈskɔfˌlɔ/
- /ˈskɒfˌlɔ/
Origin
The result of a Prohibition era contest that sought a new word to describe “a lawless drinker of illegally made or illegally obtained liquor,” scoff + law.
Cite this Entry
Modern Language Association (MLA Style)
“Scofflaw.” The Effin’ Word, The Effin’ Word, https://effinwords.com/dictionary/scofflaw. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.
The Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago Style)
The Effin’ Word, s.v. “scofflaw”, accessed February 5, 2025, https://effinwords.com/dictionary/scofflaw.
American Psychological Association (APA Style)
The Effin’ Word. (n.d.). Scofflaw. In The Effin’ Word. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://effinwords.com/dictionary/scofflaw