Burgled vs. Burglarized: Know the Difference

By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023

"Burgled" and "burglarized" both mean unlawfully entering a property to commit theft, but "burglarized" is more commonly used in American English.

Burgled vs. Burglarized

Key Differences

A term used primarily in British English to describe the act of breaking into a property to commit theft. Burglarized: More commonly used in American English, it also refers to the illegal entry into a property with the intent to steal.

Nov 29, 2023

Often implies a somewhat stealthy or surreptitious method of entry. Burglarized: Emphasizes the illegality of the action and is used in a broader sense in legal and colloquial contexts in the U.S.

Nov 29, 2023

The term is derived from "burglar," which historically refers to a thief who breaks into a house. Burglarized: Comes from the same root but has become more Americanized in usage and application.

Nov 29, 2023

Typically used to describe the action of the thief directly. Burglarized: Often used to describe the state or condition of the property after the event.

Nov 29, 2023

May carry a slightly less formal connotation in everyday speech. Burglarized: Tends to be used in more formal or legal descriptions of the crime in the U.S.

Nov 29, 2023

ADVERTISEMENT

Comparison Chart

Usage

More common in British English

More common in American English

Nov 29, 2023

Connotation

Implies stealthy method of entry

Emphasizes illegality of the action

Nov 29, 2023

Derivation

Directly from "burglar"

Americanized form of "burglar"

Nov 29, 2023

Description Focus

Action of the thief

State of the property

Nov 29, 2023

Formality

Less formal in everyday speech

More formal, especially in legal contexts

Nov 29, 2023

ADVERTISEMENT

Burgled and Burglarized Definitions

Burgled

Engaging in the act of burglary.

They burgled the house while the owners were away.

Nov 22, 2023

Burglarized

To have been the victim of burglary.

Our office was burglarized over the weekend.

Nov 22, 2023

Burgled

To steal from a place by illegal entry.

A local shop was burgled during the power outage.

Nov 22, 2023

Burglarized

To suffer theft from an illegal entry.

The antique store was burglarized, and many items were taken.

Nov 22, 2023

Burgled

Committing theft by breaking into a place.

The museum was burgled despite high security.

Nov 22, 2023

ADVERTISEMENT

Burglarized

Experiencing the crime of burglary.

The school was burglarized, and computers were stolen.

Nov 22, 2023

Burgled

To illegally enter a building with intent to commit theft.

The jewelry store was burgled last night.

Nov 22, 2023

Burglarized

The act of committing burglary.

The warehouse was burglarized last night.

Nov 22, 2023

Burgled

To perform an act of burglary.

The thieves burgled three homes in one night.

Nov 22, 2023

Burglarized

Illegally entering a property to steal.

Their home was burglarized while they were on vacation.

Nov 22, 2023

Burgled

To burglarize.

Oct 19, 2023

Burglarized

To commit burglary in (a building or other premises).

Oct 19, 2023

Burgled

Simple past tense and past participle of burgle

Oct 19, 2023

Burglarized

To commit burglary against (someone)

The second-floor tenants have been burglarized twice.

Oct 19, 2023

Burglarized

To commit burglary.

Oct 19, 2023

Burglarized

Simple past tense and past participle of burglarize

Oct 19, 2023

Repeatedly Asked Queries

What does burgled mean?

Illegally entering a building to steal.

Nov 29, 2023

What does burglarized mean?

The act or result of being a victim of burglary.

Nov 29, 2023

Is burgled used in American English?

Less commonly; "burglarized" is preferred.

Nov 29, 2023

Do both terms imply theft?

Yes, both involve the intent to steal.

Nov 29, 2023

Is burglarized a legal term in the U.S.?

Yes, it's commonly used in legal contexts.

Nov 29, 2023

Can businesses be burgled?

Yes, any property can be burgled.

Nov 29, 2023

What is the noun form of burgled?

Burglary.

Nov 29, 2023

Can a person be burgled?

No, it refers to a property, not a person.

Nov 29, 2023

Can a person be burglarized?

The term refers to property, not individuals.

Nov 29, 2023

Is burgled a legal term?

It's used in legal contexts, especially in the UK.

Nov 29, 2023

Is it correct to say a house was burgled?

Yes, it's a common usage.

Nov 29, 2023

Do both terms require actual theft to occur?

Yes, the intent to steal is key in both.

Nov 29, 2023

Can businesses be burglarized?

Yes, businesses can be victims of burglary.

Nov 29, 2023

How is burgled pronounced?

It's pronounced 'bur-guhld'.

Nov 29, 2023

Can a vehicle be burglarized?

More commonly referred to as a break-in for vehicles.

Nov 29, 2023

What is the noun form of burglarized?

Burglary.

Nov 29, 2023

How is burglarized pronounced?

Pronounced 'bur-gluh-raized'.

Nov 29, 2023

Is it correct to say a house was burglarized?

Yes, especially in American English.

Nov 29, 2023

Are both terms synonymous?

Essentially, though usage varies by region.

Nov 29, 2023

Can a vehicle be burgled?

Typically, the term is used for buildings.

Nov 29, 2023

Share this page

Link for your blog / website

HTML

Link to share via messenger

Casserole vs. Stew

Burgled vs. Burglarized

Leaf vs. Leaflet

Burgled vs. Burglarized

About Author

Written by

Shumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.

Trending Comparisons

Mom vs. Son

December 29, 2024

Mom typically refers to a female parent, emphasizing nurturing and caregiving roles, while a son is a male child of parents, highlighting familial lineage and male offspring dynamics.

Million vs. Billion

Million vs. Billion

February 29, 2024

A million is 1,000,000, while a billion is 1,000,000,000; a billion is a thousand times larger than a million.

Positivism vs. Post-Positivism

Positivism vs. Post-Positivism

May 26, 2024

Positivism emphasizes observable, empirical evidence and the scientific method, while post-positivism recognizes the limitations of pure objectivity and incorporates subjective perspectives.

Coordinator vs. Supervisor

Coordinator vs. Supervisor

September 30, 2024

A coordinator aligns team tasks for efficiency, focusing on project logistics; a supervisor oversees staff performance, guiding and evaluating work.

Symmetric vs. Symmetrical

Symmetric vs. Symmetrical

December 9, 2024

Symmetric implies balance and equality in parts or arrangement, while symmetrical explicitly refers to mirror-like or harmonious proportions.

Shriners vs. Masons

Shriners vs. Masons

February 29, 2024

Shriners are a subgroup within Freemasonry known for charitable work, especially children's hospitals; Masons are members of the larger, older fraternity of Freemasonry with broader goals and activities.

Fascism vs. Dictatorship

Fascism vs. Dictatorship

March 2, 2024

Fascism is a political ideology with authoritarian nationalism; dictatorship is a governance form with absolute power in one person or group, differing in ideology and structure.

Pulley vs. Sheave

Pulley vs. Sheave

April 4, 2024

A pulley is a wheel on an axle designed to support movement and change of direction of a taut cable, while a sheave is the wheel part of a pulley system that specifically interacts with the cable.

Paranormal vs. Supernatural

Paranormal vs. Supernatural

December 26, 2024

Paranormal involves phenomena beyond scientific explanation, focusing on events like ghost sightings. Supernatural encompasses all beyond natural laws, including deities and magic.

ASCII vs. EBCDIC

ASCII vs. EBCDIC

February 28, 2024

ASCII is a 7-bit character encoding standard for text; EBCDIC is an 8-bit character encoding used mainly in IBM mainframe systems.

Report vs. Article

Report vs. Article

July 20, 2024

A report presents findings or results, often following research or analysis, while an article is a written piece on a wide range of topics, primarily for information or entertainment.

Fluvial vs. Alluvial

Fluvial vs. Alluvial

June 20, 2024

Fluvial processes involve water flow in rivers, shaping the landscape, while alluvial refers to sediments deposited by water, often in floodplains.

Bachelor vs. Batchelor

Bachelor vs. Batchelor

December 22, 2024

"Bachelor" refers to an unmarried man; "Batchelor" is a less common spelling, often a surname or a place name, not used in the context of marital status.

Metrics vs. Matrix

Metrics vs. Matrix

October 19, 2024

Metrics refer to a system or standard of measurement, often used in evaluation and analysis, while a matrix is a rectangular array of numbers or symbols arranged in rows and columns.

NM3 vs. M3

April 19, 2024

NM3 measures gas volume under Normal conditions (0°C and 1.01325 bar), while M3 measures volume under the conditions at which it is measured, without standard adjustment.

The Atlantic vs. The New Yorker

The Atlantic vs. The New Yorker

February 27, 2024

The Atlantic is a magazine focusing on news, politics, and cultural commentary, while The New Yorker features a mix of reporting, commentary, criticism, fiction, and cartoons.

Celestial vs. Terrestrial

Celestial vs. Terrestrial

December 8, 2024

Celestial refers to objects or phenomena beyond Earth's atmosphere, like stars or planets, while terrestrial pertains to Earth and its inhabitants.

Mercy vs. Compassion

Mercy vs. Compassion

December 18, 2024

Mercy involves leniency or forgiveness towards someone in one’s power, often not giving a punishment deserved, while compassion is the empathetic understanding and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.

Ash vs. Soot

November 19, 2024

Ash is the residue left after combustion, mainly composed of mineral matter, while soot is a fine black powder formed by incomplete combustion of fuel.

TPU vs. PU

April 26, 2024

TPU is a type of thermoplastic elastomer with high elasticity and durability, while PU, or polyurethane, is versatile with varying hardness and used in multiple applications.

380 Auto vs. 38 Special

380 Auto vs. 38 Special

February 29, 2024

The 380 Auto is a small, low-recoil pistol cartridge, whereas the 38 Special is a larger, more powerful revolver cartridge.

Rescind vs. Revoke

Rescind vs. Revoke

July 10, 2024

Rescind involves officially cancelling a decision or agreement; revoke means to officially cancel the validity of something, often involving rights or licenses.

Cosmology vs. Cosmogony

Cosmology vs. Cosmogony

September 8, 2024

Cosmology studies the universe's structure, origin, and evolution, focusing on laws and theories, while cosmogony delves into specific myths, beliefs, and theories about the universe's creation.

Petroglyph vs. Hieroglyph

Petroglyph vs. Hieroglyph

March 5, 2024

Petroglyphs are images carved into rock surfaces, representing prehistoric art, while hieroglyphs are a form of ancient writing using symbolic pictures, often found in Egyptian contexts.

Featured Comparisons

Helicopter vs. Chopper

Helicopter vs. Chopper

Coyote vs. Jackal

Coyote vs. Jackal

Cuddle vs. Snuggle

Cuddle vs. Snuggle

Hard Copy vs. Soft Copy

Hard Copy vs. Soft Copy

Fate vs. Destiny

Fate vs. Destiny