burglar

American  

[bur-gler] / ˈbɜr glər /

noun

1. a person who commits burglary.

---

burglar British  

/ ˈbɜːɡlə /

noun

1. a person who commits burglary; housebreaker

---

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

His mother “worked as a receptionist at a burglar alarm company—one of the few growth industries in the neighborhood” during the early 1960s.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

But as any Argentine will tell you, you would have to be stupid to literally hide cash under your mattress—it’s the first place a burglar would look.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

Gloucestershire-based David McClelland said some older phones, along with burglar and care alarms, will not be able to receive 4G and 5G networks, while others may automatically switch over.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

He rigged a burglar alarm with foam so it made a loud clattering sound.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2026

The burglar alarm began to whoop in panic.

From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer

Related Words

• crook
• robber
• thief