Arsonist: meaning, definitions and examples

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arsonist

 

[ ˈɑːrs(ə)nɪst ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

criminal activity

A person who intentionally sets fire to property, typically for malicious reasons such as revenge or financial gain.

Synonyms

firebug, incendiary, pyromaniac

Examples of usage

  • The arsonist was arrested for setting fire to the abandoned warehouse.
  • The authorities are investigating a series of fires believed to be the work of an arsonist.
Context #2 | Noun

legal term

In legal terms, an arsonist is someone who is convicted of the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property.

Synonyms

fire raiser, fire starter

Examples of usage

  • The prosecution presented evidence that the defendant was the arsonist responsible for burning down the building.
  • The judge sentenced the arsonist to ten years in prison for his crime.

Translations

Translations of the word "arsonist" in other languages:

🇵🇹 incendiário

🇮🇳 आगजनी करने वाला

🇩🇪 Brandstifter

🇮🇩 pembakar

🇺🇦 палій

🇵🇱 podpalacz

🇯🇵 放火犯 (ほうかはん)

🇫🇷 pyromane

🇪🇸 incendiario

🇹🇷 kundakçı

🇰🇷 방화범 (banghwabeom)

🇸🇦 مشعل الحرائق

🇨🇿 žhář

🇸🇰 palič

🇨🇳 纵火犯 (zònghuǒfàn)

🇸🇮 požigalec

🇮🇸 brennuvargur

🇰🇿 өрт қоюшы

🇬🇪 ცეცხლის წამქეზებელი

🇦🇿 od qoyan

🇲🇽 incendiario

Etymology

The word 'arsonist' is derived from the Middle French word 'arson' meaning 'fire'. The term originally referred to someone who committed the crime of setting fire to property. Arson has been a punishable offense for centuries, with laws against it dating back to ancient times. The act of arson is considered a serious crime due to the potential danger it poses to life and property.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,415, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.