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

Lancashire Police said the fires had been investigated as potential arson, but no definite cause had been identified.

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Top Israeli officials, including the Prime Minister, pledged a crackdown after an arson at a West Bank mosque last week.

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He said the case formed part of a "breadth of activity" by Russia, including incidents such as the Salisbury poisonings in 2018 and an arson attack in London in 2024.

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Vandalism and arson attacks in the chaotic aftermath of her fall targeted roughly 450 of the country’s 600 police stations, according to officials.

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One account we contacted immediately offered payment, either in cryptocurrency or via bank transfer, to carry out arson.

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Related Words

• torching www.thesaurus.com