burglar
Americannoun
-
burglars
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of burglar
First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English, from Anglo-French burgler (compare Anglo-Latin burg(u)lātor ), perhaps from unattested Old French borgl(er) “to plunder, pillage” (from unattested Gallo-Romance būriculāre, equivalent to unattested būric(āre) (unattested Old Low Franconian būrj(an) “to dart at, pounce upon” + unattested Vulgar Latin -icāre verb suffix; compare Old French burgier “to strike, hit”) + -ulāre verb suffix) + Anglo-French -er -er 2; see -ar 2
Explanation
Use the word burglar when you're talking about someone who steals things from inside a house or a building. A burglar often breaks a window or forces a lock, intending to take valuable items. The act of doing this is burglary, and to do it is to burglarize in the United States, or to burgle in Britain. In the 1540's, burglar was a short form of the word burglator, from the Latin burgare, "to break open."
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:
The hysteria of recent days, however, strikes me as akin to the neighborhood dogs yapping in chorus three weeks after the burglar has been and gone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
According to sources familiar with the investigation but not authorized to speak publicly, there were people inside the home when the alleged cat burglar tried to enter a second-story window of the three-story home.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
It could also provide enough electricity for off-grid devices requiring little power, such as sensors to detect pest damage to farmland, overflowing rivers, landslides or even burglar alarms.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
Other complaints about his portrayal of political rival councillor Jan Matecki as a burglar on social media are understood to remain under investigation as well.
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026
It was solid oak, with two heavy locks, and bolts top and bottom, though Will thought that no sensible burglar would try the front door anyway.
From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman
The two suspected burglars are said to be among them.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
It’s functionally a field guide of targets for burglars, looters and squatters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
In 2022, an independent panel said Ramaphosa might have a case to answer after burglars stole huge sums of cash, hidden in a sofa, from his private farm.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Five decades ago, four burglars broke into a billionaire’s safe, setting off a chain of events that exposed and foiled one of the CIA’s most ambitious operations against the Soviets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
"But this is what I mean about luck—they caught the burglars, and we got every last stitch back."
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
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