What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
burglary
Example
The police are investigating a burglary that took place last night. [burglary: noun]
Example
He was charged with burglary for breaking into the store and stealing valuable items. [burglary: noun]
robbery
Example
The bank was robbed yesterday by two armed men. [robbed: past tense verb]
Example
She was a victim of a robbery when her purse was snatched on the street. [robbery: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Robbery is more commonly used than burglary in everyday language. Robbery is often reported in the news and is a more well-known term, while burglary is less frequently used but still widely understood.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between burglary and robbery?
Both burglary and robbery are formal terms used in legal and law enforcement contexts. However, robbery may be considered more serious due to its involvement of direct confrontation and use of force.
