What does burglarized mean?
To be burglarized means to have had a building or other premises illegally entered, usually by force or stealth, so that its contents could be stolen. The word is the past tense and past participle of "burglarize," an American English verb derived from "burglar" and "burglary." In practice, "burglarized" turns up constantly in news reports, police blotters, insurance claims, and everyday accounts of misfortune: a home is burglarized while the family is on vacation, a store is burglarized overnight, an office is burglarized after hours. Its connotations are neutral and factual rather than dramatic — it describes a specific category of crime, distinct from robbery, where the victim is a person confronted directly rather than an unoccupied property. British English prefers "burgled," making "burglarized" one of the clearer transatlantic vocabulary divides. For American writers and speakers, it remains the standard, precise way to report that a break-in theft has taken place.
verb (past tense and past participle)Burglarized is the past tense and past participle of "burglarize," meaning to have committed burglary at a building or other premises — that is, to have illegally entered it, typically by breaking in, with the intent to steal. The term is chiefly used in American English.
- Having broken into a building or premises illegally, typically by forcing entry, in order to commit theft (past tense/past participle of burglarize).
"The corner shop was burglarized twice last month, losing thousands of dollars in merchandise."
"Our cabin was burglarized while we were away for the weekend."
"Police say the jewelry store has been burglarized three times this year."
Americans say their home was "burglarized" while Britons say it was "burgled" — same crime, two very different-sounding words.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of burglarized
The verb "burglarize" was formed in nineteenth-century America from "burglar," which itself derives from the medieval Latin "burglator" (also spelled burgulator), a legal term meaning housebreaker. That Latin form is generally linked to "burgus," meaning a fortified town or stronghold, giving the word roots connected to dwellings and fortified places. "Burglarize" arose as a distinctly American coinage, and "burglarized" simply follows as its regular past tense and past participle; British English instead developed "burgle" from the noun.
Related word forms
How burglarized is actually used
"Burglarized" is distinctly American; British speakers use "burgled" instead. It refers to crimes against places rather than people — a person is robbed, but a house or shop is burglarized. It appears most often in news reports, police statements, and insurance contexts.
Easily confused with burglarized
Being robbed means valuables were taken directly from a person, often with force or threat, whereas a place is burglarized when someone breaks into the premises to steal.
"Burgle" (and its forms like burgled) is the standard British English equivalent of "burglarize," which is preferred in American English.