prowler

American  

[prou-ler] / ˈpraʊ lər /

noun

1. a person or animal that prowls.

2. a person who goes stealthily about with some unlawful intention, as to commit a burglary or theft.

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Etymology

Origin of prowler

First recorded in 1510–20; prowl + -er ¹

Example Sentences

More than half of the calls that the unarmed responders handle involve some type of disturbance, with reports of a prowler or trespasser as the next most common category.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2025

Zeke, a white and gray short-haired cat with a penchant for taking down rats, is known in his Boston neighborhood as a fearless prowler.

From New York Times • Aug. 2, 2022

For now, I can only turn up the volume on my security-cam alerts, enduring the false alarms triggered by wildlife but ensuring that I’ll be awake should the prowler return.

From Washington Post • Jul. 19, 2022

A neighbor called police to report a possible vehicle prowler.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 30, 2022

It occurred to me I might he mistaken for a prowler, so I walked around the block.

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli