embezzle

[em-bez-uhl]

verb (used with object)

embezzled, embezzling 

1. to appropriate fraudulently to one's own use, as money or property entrusted to one's care.

   Synonyms: misappropriate

embezzle

/ ɪmˈbɛzəl /

verb

1. to convert (money or property entrusted to one) fraudulently to one's own use

Other Word Forms

• embezzlement noun
• embezzler noun
• nonembezzlement noun
• unembezzled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of embezzle¹

1375–1425; late Middle English embesilen < Anglo-French embeseiller to destroy, make away with, equivalent to em- em- ¹ + beseiller, Old French beseiller to destroy < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of embezzle¹

C15: from Anglo-French embeseiller to destroy, from Old French beseiller to make away with, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

An Orange County woman is in hot water after embezzling millions from an instant ramen company she worked for, federal prosecutors said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Whatever happens here, stays here. Guaranteed. So if you've just embezzled the company funds, come on camera now. It's fine."

Read more on BBC

The leak occurred while he was in detention, accused of depositing a huge sum of embezzled money into secret accounts in the Cayman Islands.

Read more on BBC

Earlier this year, RN leader Marine Le Pen was convicted by a French court of helping to embezzle European Union funds.

Read more on BBC

He was arrested in April and was later accused of embezzling funds that had been allocated for the building of fortifications on the border with Ukraine.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• appropriate 
• filch 
• loot 
• misappropriate 
• misuse 
• pilfer 
• purloin 
• skim