Burglar
/ˈbɜːrɡlər/
nounBeginnerCommonGeneral
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
A person who illegally enters a building to steal something.
/ˈbɜːrɡlər/
nounnegativeBeginner
General
A person who commits burglary.
The burglar was caught trying to escape with the stolen jewelry.
💡 Simply: Someone who steals from houses or buildings.
More Examples
2
Several burglaries have been reported in the neighborhood recently.
How It's Used
Law Enforcement
"The police apprehended the burglar red-handed."
News Reporting
"A burglar broke into the museum last night."
From Middle English *burgeour, from Old French *burgeis (burgess, citizen of a borough). The meaning shifted from inhabitant to criminal.
Historically, the word 'burglar' was used more narrowly, often implying a specific type of thief, rather than a general term for all types of thieves.
Memory tip
Think 'burg' as in building and 'lar' as in 'to steal'.
Practice
Base: burglary
burlerburglarrburgler
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written