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Burglary - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Burglary is the crime of illegally entering a building, usually at night, to steal property or commit another offense. It involves unlawful trespass with criminal intent.

burglary

/ˈbɝɡləri/ /ˈbɜːɡləri/

Definition:

Illegal entry into a building to commit theft or another crime.

Synonyms:

Break-in, theft, robbery, housebreaking

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

Security, protection

Common Collocations:

Commit burglary, burglary attempt, burglary suspect, burglary charges

Derivatives:

Burglar, burglarize, burglarized

Usage Tips:

Use "burglary" specifically for unlawful entry with intent to commit a crime inside.

Common Phrases:

Cat burglary, burglary tools, daylight burglary

Etymology:

From Old French "burgler," meaning "to steal," and Latin "burgus," meaning "fortress" or "town."

Examples:

  • 1. The police investigated the burglary at the jewelry store.
  • 2. She installed an alarm system after a recent burglary in her neighborhood.
  • 3. The suspect was charged with burglary and theft.
  • 4. Burglary rates have decreased due to better security measures.

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