arson
Arson (noun) means the crime of deliberately setting fire to property. Example: “Investigators ruled the warehouse blaze an act of arson.”
How to Use Arson
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDeliberately starting a fire to cause damage — a criminal offence.
Word Forms
arsoned past tense, arsons plural, arsons plural, arsons singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Investigators ruled the warehouse blaze an act of _____.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman arson, from Latin ardere, "to burn" — the same root gives us "ardent."
Rhymes for arson
See all rhymes for arson →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “arson” mean?
The word “arson” means the crime of deliberately setting fire to property. In plain terms, deliberately starting a fire to cause damage — a criminal offence.
How do you pronounce “arson”?
“Arson” is pronounced AH-suhn (/ˈɑɹsən/ in IPA).
How do you use “arson” in a sentence?
Here is “arson” used in a sentence: “Investigators ruled the warehouse blaze an act of arson.”
What part of speech is “arson”?
“Arson” is a noun.
Where does the word “arson” come from?
The word “arson” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman arson, from Latin ardere, "to burn" — the same root gives us "ardent.".
Is “arson” a common word?
“Arson” is an uncommon word in modern English.