breaking and entering

noun

: the act of forcing or otherwise gaining unlawful passage into and entering another's building

Examples of breaking and entering in a Sentence

The thief was arrested and charged with breaking and entering.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Daisy Jones & the Six star, 35, revealed on the latest episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast that she was once arrested for breaking and entering as a teen and had to call her mom, the late Lisa Marie Presley, to bail her out of jail. —EW.com, 15 Jan. 2025

Julio Esteban Batista-Castillo, 24, was charged with kidnapping, malicious destruction of property, breaking and entering and home invasion, in addition to several assault and battery charges. —Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 3 Dec. 2024

Four people, including two brothers, were indicted April 18 after a nine-month investigation on 95 counts of unarmed burglary and breaking and entering a dwelling house in the daytime with intent to commit a felony. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2024

The police conducted a search of the residence and ruled out breaking and entering. —Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for breaking and entering

• centering
• mentoring
• decentering

Legal Definition

breaking and entering

noun

: the act of gaining passage into and entering another's property (as a building or vehicle) without privilege or by force

also : the crime of breaking and entering see also burglary