burglary

[ bur-gluh-ree ]

noun

, Criminal Law.

, plural bur·gla·ries.

1. the felony of breaking into and entering the house of another at night with intent to steal, extended by statute to cover the breaking into and entering of any of various buildings, by night or day.

burglary

/ bɜːˈɡlɛərɪəs; ˈbɜːɡlərɪ /

noun

1. English criminal law the crime of either entering a building as a trespasser with the intention of committing theft, rape, grievous bodily harm, or damage, or, having entered as a trespasser, of committing one or more of these offences

Derived Forms

• burglarious, adjective

Other Words From

• anti·burgla·ry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of burglary¹

1150–1200; Middle English < Anglo-French burglarie; burglar, -y ³

Example Sentences

The British tabloid the Sun claims in their report of the burglary that Prince William and his family are believed to have been home at the time.

From Salon

The burglary took place at around 23:45 on Sunday 13 October, and was reported to have involved scaling a six-foot perimeter fence and escaping by breaking through a gate with a stolen vehicle.

From BBC

Reader, who died aged 84 last year with an estimated fortune of £22m garnered from his string of high-risk burglaries, denied he took part.

From BBC

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

He was detained for a week but, within a month, he was back in custody for another burglary.

From BBC

Related Words

• break in
• crime
• heist
• larceny
• robbery
• theft