If someone commits a burglary, they enter a building by force and steal things. Burglary is the act of doing this.
An 11-year-old boy committed a burglary.
He's been arrested for burglary.
Synonyms: breaking and entering, housebreaking, break-in, home invasion [Australian, New Zealand] More Synonyms of burglary
burglary in British English
(ˈbɜːɡlərɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ries
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 (bɜːˈɡlɛərɪəs)
adjective
burglariously (burˈglariously) (bɜːˈɡlɛərɪəslɪ)
adverb
burglary in American English
(ˈbɜrgləri)
nounWord forms: pluralˈburglaries
1.
the act of breaking into a house at night to commit theft or other felony
2.
the act of breaking into any building at any time to commit theft, some other felony,or a misdemeanor
SIMILAR WORDS: theft
Word origin
burglar + -y4
Examples of 'burglary' in a sentence
burglary
He admitted burglary, dangerous driving and handling stolen goods.
The Sun (2017)
February, of no fixed address, faces one charge of burglary.
The Sun (2016)
There were a lot of burglaries in the area.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She admitted burglary but her lawyer argued she was getting help.
The Sun (2014)
Some users are involved in theft and burglary to fund their use of drugs.
Cohen, Julian & Kay, James Taking Drugs Seriously (1994)
When he was released he committed burglaries and was jailed only to be released again.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Three men deny conspiracy to commit burglary.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The main problems now are burglaries and car crimes.
The Sun (2006)
But burglary is one of the most traumatic crimes anyone can experience.
The Sun (2015)
He admitted two burglaries and possessing cannabis.
The Sun (2009)
Judges will be encouraged to hand out shorter sentences for acquisitive crimes such as burglary and theft.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
One officer was arrested over a burglary committed while on duty.
The Sun (2009)
He was jailed for four months and committed burglary and theft after his release.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Improved car security and more home burglar alarms and window locks have driven down vehicle crime and burglary.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But the first four months brought a drop in vandalism, burglary and robbery.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He admitted criminal damage, burglary and interfering with vehicles.
The Sun (2008)
There has been a 42 per cent reduction in residential burglary in areas with the technology.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Metal theft has overtaken domestic burglaries in some areas of Britain.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Overall, cops catch the culprit in just one in eight burglaries.
The Sun (2016)
The drug addict admitted the burglary and robbery in Leamington Spa.
The Sun (2016)
In other languages
burglary
British English: burglary /ˈbɜːɡlərɪ/ NOUN
If someone commits a burglary, they enter a building by force and steal things.
He's been arrested for burglary.
American English: burglary
Arabic: سَطْو
Brazilian Portuguese: assalto
Chinese: 行窃
Croatian: provala
Czech: vloupání
Danish: indbrudstyveri
Dutch: inbraak
European Spanish: robo con allanamiento
Finnish: murtovarkaus
French: cambriolage
German: Einbruch
Greek: διάρρηξη
Italian: furto
Japanese: 住居侵入罪
Korean: 강도죄
Norwegian: innbrudd
Polish: włamanie
European Portuguese: assalto
Romanian: spargere
Russian: кража со взломом
Latin American Spanish: robo con allanamiento
Swedish: inbrott
Thai: การบุกเข้ามาขโมยของในอาคารหรือบ้าน
Turkish: hırsızlık
Ukrainian: крадіжка зі зломом
Vietnamese: trộm cắp
Chinese translation of 'burglary'
burglary
(ˈbəːɡlərɪ)
n
(c) (= act) 盗(盜)窃(竊) (dàoqiè) (次, cì)
(u) (= crime) 盗(盜)窃(竊)罪 (dàoqièzuì)
(noun)
Definition
the crime of entering a building as a trespasser to commit theft or another offence
He's been arrested for burglary.
Synonyms
breaking and entering
housebreaking
break-in
The break-in had occurred just before midnight.
home invasion (Australian, New Zealand)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of break-in
Definition
the act of illegally entering a building, esp. by thieves