arson
Americannoun
-
arsons
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of arson
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”; cf. ardent) + -iō -ion
Explanation
If you deliberately light logs on fire to roast marshmallows, you have camping skills. If you deliberately set your whole house on fire to collect the insurance money, you've committed arson. The noun arson comes from the Latin word ardere, meaning "to burn." Arson is the act of setting something on fire for a nefarious purpose, and it is, of course, illegal. If you live in a wildfire risk area, you know that sometimes wildfires are caused by natural causes like lightening, sometimes they're caused accidentally by carelessness, and sadly they're sometimes caused by a deliberate act of arson.
Vocabulary lists containing arson
Born a Crime
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The Hate U Give
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Flush
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Earlier this year the Brits identified an arson wave targeting U.K.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
The European Union said it stood with Estonia calling the arson attack "reckless", and would not be put off supporting Ukraine.
From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026
The outlet reported that Shrine has a prior felony arson conviction in Contra Costa County as well as convictions for vandalism, battery and violation of probation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
The first fire is being investigated as suspected arson, and Cambridgeshire Police has appealed for information.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
Imam Malik is walking through the mosque, pointing at the ceiling, which has been damaged by flames, and talking with a police officer, who is then interviewed about the arson.
From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan
None of the arsons have been linked to any of the larger wildfires burning throughout the county, according to Pamela Johnson, a spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 17, 2025
Jane Lee from the Keighley Civic Society has previously called for more security measures at the mill to prevent further trespass and arsons.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2024
There were 18 reports of arson for 2022, twice the total of 2021 and 61% higher than the 11 arsons reported in 2018.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 14, 2022
Tens of thousands of dilapidated homes have been bulldozed or rehabilitated in recent years — a key factor, officials say, in reducing arsons.
From New York Times ● Nov. 2, 2022
On Mars there are no murders, arsons, robberies, forgeries, slanders, and other crimes and misdeeds, for they have progressed beyond them.
From A Book Written by the Spirits of the So-Called Dead by C. G. (Carl Gustaf) Helleberg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
