Meaning & use
burglary
Last updated
The crime of illegally entering a building with the intent to commit theft or another crime inside.
See it in a sentence
The family returned from vacation to find their home had been the target of a burglary.
Police arrested two suspects in connection with a string of burglaries downtown.
A note on using this word
Burglary refers to unlawful entry with criminal intent, whereas robbery involves stealing directly from a person using force or threats — the two terms are often confused.
Words with a similar meaning
break-inhousebreaking
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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