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

Of that prosecutors say $27 billion was misappropriated, and $12 billion was judged to have been embezzled, the most serious financial crime for which she was sentenced to death.

From BBC

He was arrested on 25 October accused of embezzling a huge sum of money from state coffers and depositing it in secret accounts in the Cayman Islands.

From BBC

As a federal prosecutor, Hochman sought to convict a defendant caught up in “Operation Big Spender” in the 1990s, a scandal that implicated deputies in embezzling over $1 million seized in drug raids.

From Los Angeles Times

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

The Mississippi Department of Human Services filed a civil lawsuit against him and other defendants, citing text messages between Favre and officials as evidence of his involvement in embezzling funds.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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