arson
AHR-sun
/ˈɑːrsn/
The criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property.
Requires intentional, malicious ignition of structures, land, or personal property.
The story behind the word. Originates from the Latin verb 'ardere' (to burn), passing through Old French 'arsoun' into Anglo-French law terms.
Word relationships
- incendiarism: Incendiarism is a more formal or literary term for malicious fire-setting.
Commonly confused with
- pyromania: Pyromania is an uncontrollable psychological impulse; arson is a criminal charge.
Word family
- arsonist (noun): A person who commits arson.
Collocations
- commit arson
- arson investigator
- suspected arson
- arson charge
Example sentences
- "Investigators determined that the warehouse fire was an act of arson." News report
Memory hook
ARSON burns property into ASHES under the hot SUN. Criminal fire-setting.
When not to use
Do not use for accidental fires, controlled agricultural burns, or bonfire mishaps.
Fun facts
- Specialized sniffer dogs are trained in arson investigation to detect trace amounts of chemical accelerants.
Related words
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