Burglary definition

bûrglə-rē
burglaries
Frequency:
An instance of this.

There were 10 burglaries in the area last month.

noun
5
0
The act of entering another's premises without authorization in order to commit a crime, such as theft.
noun
6
3
The act of breaking into a building to commit theft or some other crime.
noun
5
2
The common-law offense of forcibly entering a dwelling at night to commit a felony therein. Under many modern statutes, the act of breaking and entering into any building at any time with the intent to commit a felony (or, in some states, a felony or petit larceny and, in other states, any crime) therein. See also larceny and robbery.
verb
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1
The definition of a burglary is breaking into a house or other building to commit theft or another crime.

An example of burglary is someone breaking the lock on the back door of your house and stealing your television.

noun
3
1
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(law, US) Under the Model Penal Code, entering a building or occupied structure with purpose to commit a crime therein, unless the premises are at the time open to the public or the actor is licensed or privileged to enter. Model Penal Code § 221.1.
noun
2
1
The crime of unlawfully breaking into a vehicle, house, store, or other enclosure with the intent to steal.
noun
1
1
(law) Under the common law, breaking and entering of the dwelling of another at night with the intent to commit a felony.
noun
1
1

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
burglary
Plural:
burglaries

Burglary Sentence Examples

  • Bobby was assigned to the pending burglary case and Dean had made the arrest.

  • Malinovsky had been caught in committing burglary and forgery.

  • I'm just checking on David Dean, latest mob burglary victim.

  • In the parish of Tottenham nineteen attempts at burglary were made in six weeks, and sixteen were entirely successful.

  • I trusted Brennan sufficiently to reveal Julie's identity and the burglary.

More sentences

Related articles

Words near burglary in the Dictionary