burglarize
burglarize Lexical Profile
burglarize Game Scores & Validity
• verb
North American To enter a building or premises illegally with the intent to commit a crime, especially theft.
"The shop owners installed a new security system after several businesses on the street were burglarized over the weekend."
Word Nuance & Usage
"Burglarize" is standard in North American English, whereas "burgle" is strongly preferred in British and Commonwealth English. Additionally, a building or property is "burglarized" (unlawfully entered with intent to steal), whereas a person or institution is "robbed" (subjected to theft by force or threat).
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in mid-19th-century American English by adding the verb-forming suffix "-ize" to "burglar," which itself derives from Anglo-Norman "burgler" (housebreaker).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.