arson
AR-suhn
/ˈɑːrsən/
The criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property.
Arson is a very serious property crime because of the danger to human life. It is often committed for insurance fraud or to destroy evidence.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'ardere', meaning to burn. This is the same root that gives us 'ardent' (passionate/burning with desire).
Word relationships
- incendiarism: A more technical or formal term for setting fires.
- firefighting: The act of extinguishing fires.
Commonly confused with
- vandalism: Arson is a specific, high-risk form of property destruction using fire.
Word family
- arsonist (noun): A person who commits arson.
Collocations
- commit arson
- arson investigator
- suspected arson
Idioms & expressions
- play with fire
Example sentences
- "The fire marshal determined that the warehouse fire was a clear case of arson." News Report
- "He was sentenced to ten years for arson after burning down his own business for the insurance money." Legal Case
Memory hook
An arsonist starts a fire on the 'ar' (air). Setting fire to property.
When not to use
Do not use arson for a fire that started by accident or through negligence.
Fun facts
- Arson is one of the few property crimes that can lead to a murder charge if someone dies in the fire.
- Dogs are often trained as 'arson dogs' to sniff out chemical accelerants like gasoline.
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