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

Derived Forms

• ˈarsonist, noun

Other Words From

• arson·ous adjective

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

Murder, drugs, and arson are mercifully absent from his story but many things are different than before.

From The Daily Beast

Klansmen were implicated in the arson of 30 black churches in Mississippi.

From The Daily Beast

In the late 1940s, he writes, there was “one racially motivated bombing or arson” every twenty days.

From The Daily Beast

Zeffirelli's film was awful and creepy and over the top in all the right ways: arson, chases, death, prison, Tom Cruise.

From The Daily Beast

It's a good day to remember Rodney Hulin, a physically slight teenager who was serving time for arson in a Texas prison.

From The Daily Beast

Murder, rape, arson, and a host of other atrocities are often the first evidence of a diseased brain.

From Project Gutenberg

These sanguinary deeds were diversified by various attempts at arson—the latest, with aid of gunpowder, being successful.

From Project Gutenberg

Palliation may be found for the alleged arson mentioned in the catalogue of complaints that have excited British indignation.

From Project Gutenberg

Arson, rs′on, n. the crime of wilfully burning houses or other buildings.

From Project Gutenberg

This was a simple matter when the strikers were guilty of trespass, arson, or sabotage.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• torching