arson

[ahr-suhn]

noun

1. Law.,  the malicious burning of another's house or property, or in some statutes, the burning of one's own house or property, as to collect insurance.

arson

/ ˈɑːsən /

noun

1. criminal law the act of intentionally or recklessly setting fire to another's property or to one's own property for some improper reason

Other Word Forms

• arsonous adjective
• arsonist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of arson¹

First recorded in 1670–80; from Anglo-French, Old French, from Late Latin ārsiōn-, stem of ārsiō “a burn,” from ārs(us) “burned” (past participle of Latin ārd(ere) “to burn”; ardent ) + -iō -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of arson¹

C17: from Old French, from Medieval Latin ārsiō, from Latin ārdēre to burn; see _ardent

Example Sentences

He said it was disturbing to learn that the New Year’s fire allegedly was arson, but that the news on Wednesday raised more questions than answers.

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A second man has been arrested over an arson attack on a mosque in East Sussex.

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A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after a fire at a mosque in East Sussex.

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A mosque in East Sussex has been damaged by fire in what police are investigating as a hate crime, following a report of arson.

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Justin Halstenberg, 35, was convicted of nine counts of arson, ranging from aggravated arson to the use of an incendiary device, for his role in San Bernardino County’s Line and Bacon fires.

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Related Words

• torching www.thesaurus.com