- The definition of arson is the act of purposely setting fire to a building or area.
An example of arson would be when a person sets their home on fire to collect the insurance.
the crime of purposely setting fire to another's building or property, or to one's own, as to collect insurance
Origin of arsonOld French ; from Late Latin arsio, fire ; from Classical Latin arsus, past participle of ardere, to burn: see ash
- The crime of intentionally and illegally setting fire to a building or other structure.
- An instance of this crime: a rash of arsons.
Origin of arsonAnglo-Norman, from Late Latin ārsiō, ārsiōn-, from Latin ārsus, past participle of ārdēre, to burn; see as- in Indo-European roots.
(countable and uncountable, plural arsons)
arson - Legal Definition
- In common law, the willful and malicious burning of someone else’s dwelling house. In some states, the term includes, under specific circumstances, the burning of a dwelling house by its owner.
- Under modern statutes, the intentional causing of a dangerous fire or explosion for the purpose of destroying one’s own or another’s property.