embezzle

[ em-bez-uhl ]
/ ɛmˈbɛz əl /

verb (used with object), em·bez·zled, em·bez·zling.

to appropriate fraudulently to one's own use, as money or property entrusted to one's care.

Origin of embezzle

1375–1425; late Middle English embesilen < Anglo-French embeseiller to destroy, make away with, equivalent to em- em-1 + beseiller, Old French beseiller to destroy < ?

OTHER WORDS FROM embezzle

em·bez·zle·ment, noun em·bez·zler, noun non·em·bez·zle·ment, noun un·em·bez·zled, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for embezzlement

British Dictionary definitions for embezzlement

embezzle
/ (ɪmˈbɛzəl) /

verb

to convert (money or property entrusted to one) fraudulently to one's own use

Derived forms of embezzle

embezzlement, noun embezzler, noun

Word Origin for embezzle

C15: from Anglo-French embeseiller to destroy, from Old French beseiller to make away with, of uncertain origin

Cultural definitions for embezzlement

embezzlement

The stealing of money entrusted to one's care: “The treasurer of the company embezzled a million dollars.”