arson

American  

[ahr-suhn] / ˈɑr sən /

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.

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arson British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• arsonist noun
• arsonous adjective

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”; ardent ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

Tens of thousands of homes in Berlin will be without electricity until Thursday as authorities struggle to repair power cables seriously damaged in a suspected arson attack, officials said.

From Barron's

“I don’t think he has any motivation right now other than arson and chaos,” Wilson told MSNOW’s Ali Velshi last week.

From Salon

“I encountered six to eight rekindles during my career and each time the local battalion chiefs showed up to try and convince the investigators it was arson.”

From Los Angeles Times

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

From BBC

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

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• torching