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

Moore, who was accompanied to court by his wife and attorney, is charged with third-degree felony home invasion, as well as misdemeanor counts of stalking and of breaking and entering. —Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026

Moore faces charges of third-degree home invasion, stalking and breaking and entering after allegedly confronting the female staffer after his firing. —Austin Meek, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026

Edwin Santo was convicted on five counts of unarmed robbery of a person 60 or older and one count of breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony last month. —Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026

Footage from that night posted by Gastonia police on social media in July showed three people breaking and entering Moore’s home, and then later fleeing. —Charlotte Observer, 5 Jan. 2026

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