# arsonist

/ˈɑɹsənəst/ (US) · /ˈɑːsənˌɪst/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/arsonist
Updated: 2026-10-19

## Definition

a person who sets fire to a building or other property on purpose to cause damage.

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.