A habitual offender is a person who has been convicted of multiple criminal offenses and has demonstrated a pattern of repeated law-breaking behavior. This term can refer to someone who repeatedly commits minor or major crimes, and it often indicates that the individual may have underlying issues such as addiction, mental health problems, or antisocial tendencies. In some jurisdictions, being labeled a habitual offender can result in harsher penalties or longer sentences due to the perceived threat they pose to society.