# burglary

/ˈbɝɡɫɝi/ (US) · /bˈɜːɡləɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/burglary
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. the crime of breaking in

noun · CEFR B2

the crime of entering a building or car illegally because you want to steal something.

For teachers: the act of entering a building or vehicle unlawfully with the intent to commit a crime, typically theft.

- The family installed a new alarm system after a burglary in their neighborhood.
- The police are investigating a series of nighttime burglaries where the suspects entered through unlocked second-story windows.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun for the crime itself, or as a countable noun for a specific instance.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse this with 'robbery'. Remind them that burglary is about the building/entry, while robbery involves a victim being present and threatened.

## Examples

- The police investigated the burglary at the house.
- They installed a security system after the burglary last winter.
- The burglary was solved quickly because the suspect left fingerprints on the window frame.

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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.