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Definition of housebreaker

housebreaker

/ˈhaʊsˌbreɪ.kər/
house · break · er
Plural:housebreakers
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housebreaker Lexical Profile

housebreaker Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person who breaks into and enters another person's house with the intent to commit a crime, especially theft; a burglar.

Example

"The security camera captured clear footage of the housebreaker prying open the back window."

2

British A person or contractor employed to demolish old buildings.

Example

"The city council hired a licensed housebreaker to clear the condemned row of Victorian terraces."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

housebound
houseboy
housebreak
housebreaker
housebreaking
housebroken
housebuilder

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English as a compound of 'house' and 'breaker', mirroring the Old English legal term 'husbreca', which designated a thief who forcibly entered a dwelling.

Cite this Entry

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