embezzle

[ em-bez-uhl ]

verb (used with object)

, em·bez·zled, em·bez·zling.

1. to appropriate fraudulently to one's own use, as money or property entrusted to one's care.

   Synonyms: misappropriate

embezzle

/ ɪmˈbɛzəl /

verb

1. to convert (money or property entrusted to one) fraudulently to one's own use

Derived Forms

• emˈbezzlement, noun
• emˈbezzler, noun

Other Words From

• em·bezzle·ment noun
• em·bezzler noun
• nonem·bezzle·ment noun
• unem·bezzled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of embezzle¹

1375–1425; late Middle English embesilen < Anglo-French embeseiller to destroy, make away with, equivalent to em- em- ¹ + beseiller, Old French beseiller to destroy < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of embezzle¹

C15: from Anglo-French embeseiller to destroy, from Old French beseiller to make away with, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

She has denied wrongdoing, and party spokesman Laurent Jacobelli said "we are going to prove that there is no system to embezzle money from the EU".

From BBC

He claims Hobbs teamed up with her husband to embezzle at least $500,000 from Real Food Daily over 6½ years working for the business.

From Los Angeles Times

She is accused of illegally controlling the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank between 2012 to 2022 and using it to embezzle $12.5 billion, the document adds.

From Seattle Times

Stanley Ellicott, an employee in San Francisco’s Department of Human Resources, was charged with helping embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars from a fund meant for neighborhood improvements, The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

From New York Times

Yu and his company were charged with conspiracy to embezzle public funds and grand theft by embezzlement of public funds.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• appropriate
• filch
• loot
• misappropriate
• misuse
• pilfer
• purloin
• skim