Burglary Meaning
/ˈbɜː.ɡlə.ɹi/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe crime of unlawfully breaking into a vehicle, house, store, or other enclosure with the intent to steal.
nounThe crime of unlawfully breaking into a vehicle, house, store, or other enclosure with the intent to steal., Under the common law, breaking and entering of the dwelling of another at night with the intent to commit a felony.
Sentence Examples
On arriving home, I discovered the burglary.
The inmate was doing time for a burglary conviction.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The police investigated the ____ after finding a broken lock and missing jewelry.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The police are currently investigating a ____ at the local school city.
Word Origin & History
From New Latin burglaria. Equivalent to burglar + -y. Displaced native Old English hūsbryċe (literally “house-breach”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Essentially, Jarden makes anything that you’d find left behind after a burglary."
— 2016, Tim Carvell [et al.], “Pennies”, in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season 3, episode 35, John Oliver (actor), Warner Bros. Television, via HBO:
"It’s hard to say whether Corona was actually playing pickleball or was just nowhere near Slowjamastan at the time of the burglary and thinks it’s funny to say he was playing pickleball."
— 2025 February 1, Noah Goldberg, “He runs a desert micro-nation by the Salton Sea. Population Zero.”, in Los Angeles Times, archived from the original on 01 Feb 2025:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The police investigated the ____ after finding a broken lock and missing jewelry.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The police are currently investigating a ____ at the local school city.