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Definition of burglary

burglary

/ˈbɜːr.ɡlə.ri/
bur · gla · ry
Adverb:burglariously
•
Plural:burglaries
•
Adjective:burglarious
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burglary Lexical Profile

burglary Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The criminal offense of unlawfully entering a building or other premises with the intent to commit a felony or theft inside.

Example

"The neighborhood watch was formed after a series of residential burglaries occurred last month."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for burglary

Word Nuance & Usage

In legal and precise usage, 'burglary' refers specifically to unlawful entry into a building with the intent to commit a crime inside, whereas 'robbery' involves taking property directly from a person using force or intimidation, and 'theft' is the general act of stealing.

• Rhymes for burglary

• Nearby Words

burglar
burglarize
burglarproof
burglary
burgle
burgundy
burhi dihing

Word Origin & Etymology

Recorded in English since the 16th century, the word derives from Anglo-Norman 'burglerie', from Medieval Latin 'burglaria', rooted in 'burglator' (housebreaker).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Burglary. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/burglary
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