arson

noun

ar·son ˈär-sᵊn

Synonyms of arson next

: the willful or malicious burning of property (such as a building) especially with criminal or fraudulent intent

Arson was determined to be the cause of the fire.

arsonist

ˈär-sᵊn-ist

noun

arsonous

ˈär-sᵊn-əs

adjective

Examples of arson in a Sentence

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but investigators suspect arson. The town has suffered a rash of arson attacks. The town has suffered a rash of arsons.

Recent Examples on the Web Maxwell Anderson, 33, of Milwaukee, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and arson in the case. —

CBS News, 19 Apr. 2024 The investigation eventually led to Maxwell Anderson, who was arrested at a traffic stop April 4 has since been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and arson in Robinson's death. —

Ashley Luthern, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024 The sentence came down after Holton was found guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree arson for stabbing Gloster and then drowning her because another man was interested in spending time with her, prosecutors said, WFLA reports. —

Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024 The investigation eventually led to Maxwell Anderson, 33, who has since been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and arson in Robinson's death. —

Ashley Luthern, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024 Maxwell Anderson, 33, also of Milwaukee, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and arson in the slaying of Sade Robinson, 19. —

Antonio Planas, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024 Anderson was charged April 12 with intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and arson in connection with Robinson’s death, according to court documents. —

Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2024 Officers responded to an arson call around 6:40 a.m. on April 1 in the area of North 55th Place and the Arizona Canal Trail, officials said in a news release. —

The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024 Suspect faces homicide and mutilation charges On Friday, Wisconsin authorities charged Anderson with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, and arson of property other than a building. —

Zoe Sottile, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'arson.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French arsun, arson, arsoun "fire, willful setting of a destructive fire, burn on the skin, branding," going back to Gallo-Romance *ārsiōn-, ārsiō, from Latin ārdēre (perfect and supine stem ārs-) "to catch fire, burn, blaze" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at ardent

Note: Outside of Anglo-French, arsun, arson (with a by-form arsion) is sparsely attested in Old and Middle French. Französisches etymologisches Wörterbuch notes that medieval attestations and later survivals are markedly regional (west and southwest France, including Normandy and Francophone Brittany). — The normal suffix of verbal action in later classical Latin and Late Latin was -tiōn-, -tiō, added to the verbal base (competing with the u-stem suffix -tus more common in earlier Latin), with the exception of a small number of formations with -iōn-, -iō (see condition entry 1, legion entry 1, region). Because the phonetic stem changes conditioned by the verbal adjective/past participle suffix -tus (Indo-European *-tos) are identical to those conditioned by -tiōn-, -tiō, new formations with this suffix in post-classical Latin and proto-Romance copy the morphophonemic alterations of the verbal adjective. This is evident in *ārsiō, formed from ārdēre. Note that the perfect ārsī and presumed (?) supine ārsum are most likely themselves analogical forms based on second-conjugation verbs such as mansī, mansum (from manēre "to wait, remain"), given that ārdēre (from āridus, ārdus "dry") cannot be of great antiquity in Latin.

First Known Use

circa 1680, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of arson was circa 1680

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Arson.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arson. Accessed 2 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

arson

noun

ar·son ˈär-sᵊn

: the illegal burning of a building or other property

arsonist

-əst

noun

Legal Definition

arson

noun

ar·son ˈärs-ᵊn

: the act or crime of willfully, wrongfully, and unjustifiably setting property on fire often for the purpose of committing fraud (as on an insurance company)

arsonist

-ist

noun

Etymology

Anglo-French arsoun, alteration of Old French arsin, literally, conflagration, from ars, past participle of ardre to burn

Last Updated: 2 May 2024 - Updated example sentences

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arson

noun

Examples of arson in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near arson

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Legal Definition