noun
pl. -·ries the act of breaking into a building to commit theft or some other crime
Origin of burglary
burglar + -y
A man commiting a burglary.
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.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"burglary." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/burglary>.
APA Style
burglary. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/burglary
burglary
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"burglary." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/burglary>.
APA Style
burglary. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/burglary
burglary
noun
pl. bur·gla·ries- The act of entering another's premises without authorization in order to commit a crime, such as theft.
- An instance of this: There were 10 burglaries in the area last month.
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"burglary." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/burglary>.
APA Style
burglary. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/burglary
Noun
(plural burglaries)
- The crime of unlawfully breaking into a vehicle, house, store, or other enclosure with the intent to steal.
- (law) Under the common law, breaking and entering of the dwelling of another at night with the intent to commit a felony.
- (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.
- burglarproof
- burgle
- cat burglar
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"burglary." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/burglary>.
APA Style
burglary. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/burglary
burglary - Legal Definition
n
The common-law offense of forcibly entering a dwelling at night to commit a
felony therein.
v
Webster's New World Law Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"burglary." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/burglary>.
APA Style
burglary. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/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.
- In the parish of Tottenham nineteen attempts at burglary were made in six weeks, and sixteen were entirely successful.
- I'm just checking on David Dean, latest mob burglary victim.
- The pair finished their burglary report and agreed to try and keep the matter out of the papers in deference to Dean's other police activities.
» more...