Basic Details
Word: Burglar
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A person who breaks into a building to steal things.
Synonyms: thief, housebreaker, robber
How to Spell Burglar
Syllables: bur - glar
Tricky part: It ends -ar, not -er, and there is no vowel between g and l. Burgler and burgular are the usual mistakes.
Watch out for: burgler, burgular, burgaler
Memory tip: A burglar may break into a car: end burglar with the ar of car.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The burglar alarm rang at three in the morning and woke the whole lane.
Example 2: Police caught the burglar on the CCTV camera outside the shop.
Example 3: Our dog barks at every stranger, so no burglar would dare come near.
Fun Fact
The verb burgle was made from burglar in the 1800s, not the other way round, and at first it was used mainly as a joke.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The burgler escaped through the kitchen window, but the dog barked so loudly that the police arrived within minutes.
a) minutes
b) burgler
c) window
d) escaped
Show answer
b) burgler. Burglary is burglar + y and keeps the a, so burglar must end in -ar.
Word Connection
Choose the word nearest in meaning to burglar as used in the sentence:
The burglar took the jewellery from the cupboard but left the television behind.
a) witness
b) owner
c) thief
d) guard
Show answer
c) thief. A burglar is a kind of thief who breaks into buildings.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters to find the word that fits the sentence:
Lock the back door at night, or a rbulgra might get in.
a) butler
b) juggler
c) burglar
d) bugler
Show answer
c) burglar. Bugler has only one r; the jumble's two r's and the a make burglar.
Spell-o-Spell
Read the four words. Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. witniss 2. culpret 3. robbary 4. burglar
a) the person who has done something wrong
b) a person who sees an event happen
c) the crime of stealing using force
d) a person who breaks into a building to steal
Show answer
d) a person who breaks into a building to steal. Robbery ends -ery, culprit has an i after the p, and witness ends -ess.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which crime does a burglar commit?
a) speeding on a highway
b) cheating in a test
c) telling lies in court
d) breaking in to steal
Show answer
d) breaking in to steal
2. A burglar alarm is fitted to ____.
a) measure the temperature
b) announce visitors politely
c) warn of a break-in
d) wake you for school
Show answer
c) warn of a break-in
