burglar

[bur-gler] / ˈbɜr glər /

NOUN

person who steals

Synonyms

STRONGEST

crook robber thief

STRONG

housebreaker owl pilferer prowler safecracker

WEAK

cat burglar filcher midnighter picklock porch climber sneakthief

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another name for a burglar?

The word burglar specifically refers to someone who commits burglary—the crime of breaking into a place to steal things. A burglar is sometimes called a prowler. A particularly stealthy and skilled burglar is sometimes called a cat burglar. Antiquated words for burglar include housebreaker, sneakthief, and picklock. A burglar is a kind of thief, but the word thief is much more general. A house that has been burglarized can be said to have been robbed, but the word robber typically refers to someone who steals by using force, violence, or threats of force or violence. A person who specifically steals hamburgers is called a hamburglar.

What words are related to burglar?

The crime that a burglar commits is called burglary. In the US, the verb burglarize is used. In the UK, the verb is burgle. The adjective antiburglary is sometimes used to describe something designed to prevent burglaries, such as bars on windows or a burglar alarm (an electronic security system). A house with such things might be said to be burglarproof. The much rarer adjective burglarious means “pertaining to or involving burglary.”

How do you spell burglar?

Unlike a lot of words that refer to a person who performs a specific action (robber, farmer), burglar ends not in -er or -or but in -ar. The ending likely traces back to Latin origins, probably the verb burgāre, meaning “to thieve.”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

burglar burglars

The hysteria of recent days, however, strikes me as akin to the neighborhood dogs yapping in chorus three weeks after the burglar has been and gone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

It could also provide enough electricity for off-grid devices requiring little power, such as sensors to detect pest damage to farmland, overflowing rivers, landslides or even burglar alarms.

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

It’s like showing a burglar a vulnerable window, then asking him to figure out the best way to break inside and pillage the place.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

"This isn't a burglar walking down a street thinking 'I need to do a burglary'," Det Ch Insp Dave Worthington said.

From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2026

“Is it a ghost? Or a wolf? Or a burglar? Or what, what?”

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

It’s functionally a field guide of targets for burglars, looters and squatters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

In 2022, an independent panel said Ramaphosa might have a case to answer after burglars stole huge sums of cash, hidden in a sofa, from his private farm.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Five decades ago, four burglars broke into a billionaire’s safe, setting off a chain of events that exposed and foiled one of the CIA’s most ambitious operations against the Soviets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026

Details of what burglars stole from that home were not yet available Sunday morning.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 19, 2026

“Didn’t you promise burglars would never break into our house because there’s nothing here to steal?” whispered Meggie.

From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke

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