Word
arsonist
Phoneticsar·son·ist, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɑɹsənəst/
UK/ˈɑːsənˌɪst/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person who sets fire to a building or other property on purpose to cause damage.
n. a person who deliberately sets fire to property, typically buildings, to cause destruction or for criminal motives.
Examples
“The police catch the arsonist after the fire.”
“Investigators believe an arsonist started the warehouse fire after finding fuel cans near the back door.”
“The convicted arsonist had set a series of small fires across the district, each timed to divert emergency crews from the main target.”
Examples
simple
“The police catch the arsonist after the fire.”
contextual
“Investigators believe an arsonist started the warehouse fire after finding fuel cans near the back door.”
complex
“The convicted arsonist had set a series of small fires across the district, each timed to divert emergency crews from the main target.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “arsonist” in context.
Verb
01. arrest arsonist
“Officers arrested the arsonist after reviewing CCTV footage.”
verb + noun
02. arsonist flees
“The arsonist fled on foot before firefighters arrived.”
noun + verb
03. arsonist strikes
“The arsonist struck again, setting fire to two cars overnight.”
noun + verb
04. arsonist targets
“The arsonist targeted abandoned warehouses on the outskirts.”
noun + verb
05. catch arsonist
“Residents are determined to catch the arsonist responsible for the attacks.”
verb + noun
06. jail arsonist
“The judge decided to jail the arsonist for eight years.”
verb + noun
Adjective
07. alleged arsonist
“The alleged arsonist will appear in court on Monday.”
adj + noun
08. convicted arsonist
“The convicted arsonist was banned from entering the national park.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. hunt for arsonist
“The hunt for the arsonist involved over a hundred officers.”
noun + prep + noun
10. arsonist set fire deliberately
“Investigators confirmed the arsonist had set fire deliberately.”
11. catch the arsonist responsible
“Police offered a reward to catch the arsonist responsible.”
12. convicted arsonist jailed for years
“The convicted arsonist was jailed for nine years.”
Real-World Examples
“German investigators believe they have now identified an arsonist who set fire to a Jewish community centre in Munich in 1970, killing seven people.” “An admitted arsonist known in militant animal-rights circles as "Lone Wolf" was sentenced on Friday to five years in federal prison for setting a fire that destroyed a Colorado sheepskin store.” “The arsonist fled the area in a vehicle that investigators described the day after the fire as a black Hyundai sedan.” “Three fires burned around the city – one that officials say was set by an alleged arsonist – and destroyed about 900 buildings.” Etymology
From arson + -ist.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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