arson

[ ahr-suhn ]

noun

1. Law. the malicious burning of another's house or property, or in some statutes, the burning of one's own house or property, as to collect insurance.

arson

/ ˈɑːsən /

noun

1. criminal law the act of intentionally or recklessly setting fire to another's property or to one's own property for some improper reason

Derived Forms

• ˈarsonist, noun

Other Words From

• arson·ous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of arson¹

First recorded in 1670–80; from Anglo-French, Old French, from Late Latin ārsiōn-, stem of ārsiō “a burn,” from ārs(us) “burned” (past participle of Latin ārd(ere) “to burn”; ardent ) + -iō -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of arson¹

C17: from Old French, from Medieval Latin ārsiō, from Latin ārdēre to burn; see ardent

Example Sentences

Later in the day, the Sheriff’s Department said in a news release that its own Arson Explosives Detail was investigating, with assistance from the FBI.

From Los Angeles Times

They include two felony counts of murder, one felony count of kidnapping, two felony counts of arson of property, and two felony counts of first-degree burglary.

From Los Angeles Times

After treatment, Gonzalez was transported to Ventura County Jail and booked on suspicion of arson and resisting arrest, resulting in an injury to an officer.

From Los Angeles Times

Ken McCallum, head of the UK's domestic intelligence agency MI5, said last month that Russian secret agents had carried out "arson, sabotage and more dangerous actions conducted with increasing recklessness" after the UK had helped Ukraine in Russia's war.

From BBC

That fire followed the intentional burning of several ballots in Arizona in an apparent arson.

From Salon

Related Words

• torching