effraction

[ih-frak-shuh n]

noun Law.

a breaking into a house, store, etc., by force; forcible entry.

Origin of effraction

1830–40; < French: literally, a breaking open < Latin ef- ef- + frāctiōn- fraction

Related formsef·frac·tor, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018