embezzle

[ em-bez-uhl ]

/ ɛmˈbɛz əl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR embezzle ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), em·bez·zled, em·bez·zling.

to appropriate fraudulently to one's own use, as money or property entrusted to one's care.

Nearby words

ember day, ember days, ember goose, ember week, emberizine, embezzle, embezzlement, embiid, embiotocid, embitter, embla

Origin of embezzle

1375–1425; late Middle English embesilen < Anglo-French embeseiller to destroy, make away with, equivalent to em- em-¹ + beseiller, Old French beseiller to destroy < ?

SYNONYMS FOR embezzle

misappropriate.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR embezzle ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

em·bez·zle·ment, nounem·bez·zler, nounnon·em·bez·zle·ment, nounun·em·bez·zled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for embezzle

In fact, according to the 2011 Marquet Report on Embezzlement, women are more likely to embezzle than men.
Most Notorious ‘Pink-Collar’ Criminal to Be Sentenced for $53 Million Theft|Kelly Pope|February 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The village is poor, but the local party secretary managed to embezzle at least $700,000-$800,000.
Has China Gone Mad?|Huang Hung|April 2, 2010|DAILY BEAST
I assigned him a certain operation, and, having brought it to success, he endeavoured to embezzle—did embezzle—the proceeds.
The Red Triangle|Arthur Morrison
It is base to filch a purse—daring to embezzle a million,—but it is immeasurably great to steal a diadem.
Fiesco or, The Genoese Conspiracy|Friedrich Schiller

I don't say it was proved on the other hand that he did embezzle that sum.
Hard Cash|Charles Reade
He will steal or embezzle rather than have the world look on while "his" wife ekes out the family income.
The Living Present|Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton
I cannot believe that that man will ever embezzle money again.
Selections from Previous Works|Samuel Butler

British Dictionary definitions for embezzle

embezzle

/ (ɪmˈbɛzəl) /

verb

to convert (money or property entrusted to one) fraudulently to one's own use

Derived Forms

embezzlement, nounembezzler, noun

Word Origin for embezzle

C15: from Anglo-French embeseiller to destroy, from Old French beseiller to make away with, of uncertain origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012