Definition

Noun 1. The act of illegally entering a building, especially a dwelling, with the intent to commit a crime (typically theft). This is the legal and most common meaning. It emphasizes the unlawful entry itself as a criminal act, separate from any theft or other crime committed inside. 2. (Archaic/Less Common) The act of domesticating or training an animal, especially a pet, to live acceptably in a human household. This meaning is now rare and largely superseded by terms like "house-training."

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Criminal Act):
  • The suspect was charged with housebreaking after being found inside the vacant property.
  • Housebreaking is a serious offense that carries significant penalties.
  • Police reported a spike in housebreaking incidents in the neighborhood last month.

Advanced Usage

• Legal Distinction: In many legal jurisdictions, "housebreaking" is a specific charge that may be distinct from "burglary," sometimes based on the time of day (e.g., burglary at night, housebreaking during the day) or the type of structure entered. It is a form of trespass with criminal intent.
• "To break into a house" is the common verbal phrase describing the act of housebreaking.

Variants and Related Words

• Housebreaker (noun): A person who commits the crime of housebreaking.
• Break-in (noun): A more general, common term for an illegal forced entry, which can be synonymous with housebreaking.
• Burglary (noun): A closely related crime, often involving illegal entry into a building to commit a felony, especially theft. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably but may have specific legal definitions.
• House-train (verb): The modern term for training a pet (e.g., a puppy) where to urinate and defecate.

Synonyms

• Breaking and entering
• Burglary (in many contexts)
• Illegal entry
• Forced entry

Related Phrases

• To break into: The action verb form.
  • Thieves broke into the house while the owners were on vacation.
• To commit housebreaking: The formal phrasing for the criminal act.

Noun

1. trespassing for an unlawful purpose; illegal entrance into premises with criminal intent