arson

USAGE SUMMARY

"arson" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the crime of deliberately setting fire to a building or other property. For example, "The police are investigating the arson of the local warehouse."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"When we spoke to the investigator he told us that it was an incendiary fire, which means that it was a suspected arson, that someone intentionally set the place aflame," Zahid said in a video message on the institute's Facebook page.

The Guardian

There were arson attacks on GAA clubhouses by loyalist paramilitaries.

The Guardian

An Amsterdam rabbi, Binjamin Jacobs, had his front door stoned, and two Jewish women were attacked – one beaten, the other the victim of arson – after they hung Israeli flags from their balconies.

The Guardian

Eleven serious offences, including manslaughter, kidnap and arson with intent to endanger life, were committed in England and Wales by offenders freed from jail but supposedly subject to the most rigorous level of monitoring by police, probation officers, social services and other agencies.

The Guardian

She told the Guardian two arson investigators visited to ensure that worshippers "felt safe and that they had safety precautions in place.

The Guardian

Afip has raided the Argentinian branch of HSBC and seized records and files, but was told many documents relating to the Swiss accounts had been stored at a facility which suffered an arson attack last year.

The Guardian - Business

A victim of arson in her 70s said: "I lived in the London Road and I will not live there again because my house no longer exists – it was burned down.

The Guardian

It's a headquarters for a number of special police units, including the anti-gang, anti-vice and bomb and arson squad.

The Guardian

Premiered in January at Sundance, If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front, by Academy Award nominee Marshall Curry, follows Daniel McGowan, who faced life in prison for the arson of timber facilities.

The Guardian - Film

After a third night of violence directed at the party, Farry stated: "I can confirm that there was an attempted arson attack on my constituency office in Bangor on Wednesday evening.

The Guardian

Over the past couple of months there have been arson and other attacks on mosques in Hemel Hempstead, Leicester, Scunthorpe, Stoke and Kingston, as well as desecration of a Muslim graveyard and fire-bombing of a halal shop.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting on suspected "arson", always verify information with official sources like fire investigators or law enforcement to ensure accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "arson" loosely to describe any fire; it specifically refers to the intentional setting of a fire with malicious intent. Accidental fires, while destructive, do not constitute "arson".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "arson" is as a noun. As evidenced by Ludwig, it commonly refers to the crime of intentionally setting fire to property. The examples from Ludwig show it used in phrases like "suspected arson" or "arson attack".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "arson" is a grammatically correct noun referring to the crime of intentionally setting fire to property. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is commonly used in news and media to report on criminal activities. It maintains a neutral to formal register and is most frequently encountered in news articles. When using the term, ensure the context involves malicious intent to avoid misinterpretation. While there are alternative phrases like "incendiary act", "deliberate fire-starting", and "malicious burning", "arson" is the most direct and widely recognized term for this specific crime.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incendiary act

Focuses on the nature of the act as deliberately causing fire.

deliberate fire-starting

Highlights the intentional aspect of initiating a fire.

malicious burning

Emphasizes the malevolent intent behind the act of burning.

criminal pyrotechnics

Uses a more technical term to describe the act of setting fires unlawfully.

setting a blaze intentionally

Rephrases the action with emphasis on the purpose behind the fire.

intentional ignition

Highlights the start of the fire being a conscious decision.

fire-raising crime

Directly refers to the crime of starting a fire.

torching property

A more informal way of saying setting property on fire.

vandalous fire setting

Highlights the act of setting a fire as an act of vandalism.

unlawful conflagration

Uses a more formal term to describe an illegal large fire.

FAQs

How is "arson" typically used in a sentence?

"Arson" is usually used as a noun, often in the context of describing a crime or investigation. For example, "The police are investigating the "arson" of the warehouse" or "He was charged with "arson"".

What are some alternative terms for "arson"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "incendiary act", "deliberate fire-starting", or "malicious burning".

What differentiates "arson" from an accidental fire?

"Arson" specifically involves the intentional setting of a fire with malicious intent. An accidental fire, while possibly destructive, lacks this element of intent. Therefore, an accidental fire is not considered "arson".

Is "arson" always a federal crime?

Whether "arson" is a federal crime depends on the specific circumstances and jurisdiction. It is generally a state crime, but it can become a federal offense if it involves interstate commerce or federal property.