What does burglar mean?
A burglar is a person who illegally enters a building — most often a house, shop, or office — with the intention of stealing something. The word carries a specific legal meaning: burglary involves unlawful entry with criminal intent, distinguishing the burglar from the robber, who confronts a victim directly rather than breaking into an empty premises. The term appears constantly in news reports, crime fiction, police statements, and everyday conversation about home security, and it anchors familiar phrases such as "burglar alarm" and "cat burglar," the latter describing an agile intruder who climbs to reach upper floors or roofs. The verb "burgle" is standard in British English, while American English favors "burglarize." Though the word is centuries old, its exact origins remain uncertain, giving this thoroughly modern-sounding word a surprisingly mysterious history.
nounA person who illegally breaks into a building, especially a home, in order to steal things.
- A person who breaks into a building illegally in order to steal.
"The burglar slipped in through an unlocked window while the family was away."
"A burglar broke into the corner shop overnight and emptied the till."
"The cat burglar scaled the apartment block with nothing but rope and nerve."
Regular plural formation; used when referring to multiple offenders, often in crime statistics or reporting.
"Neighbors reported seeing two burglars fleeing the property shortly after midnight."
Nobody knows exactly where 'burglar' comes from — even etymologists admit this everyday crime word has a murky past.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of burglar
The word "burglar" entered English in the late Middle Ages, attested from around the fifteenth century, apparently from Anglo-Latin forms such as "burglator" or "burgator," derived from a Medieval Latin verb "burglare" meaning to commit burglary. The deeper roots are disputed; suggestions have linked it to Germanic sources, but no single origin has been firmly established, making "burglar" one of the more etymologically opaque common English words. Its derivatives — "burglary" and the back-formation "burgle" — developed later from the noun.
Related word forms
How burglar is actually used
Neutral in register and usable in both formal and informal contexts. In legal usage, a burglar commits burglary — entering a building unlawfully with intent to steal — which is distinct from robbery, a confrontation crime. In British English, the verb "burgle" is common; American English prefers "burglarize."
Easily confused with burglar
A burglar secretly breaks into a building to steal, whereas a robber steals directly from a person or place, often openly and sometimes with force or threats.