French word

effraction

Pronunciation

IPA/efʁaksjɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbreak-in

Example

Ils ont été victimes d'une effraction la nuit dernière.

They were victims of a break-in last night.

Illustration for effraction (break-in)

More examples

J'ai dû porter plainte après l'effraction.

I had to file a police report after the break-in.

Core concept

A forced breach in a door or window that leaves an opening into a building.

Common phrases

  • porter plainte pour une effraction

    file a police report for a break-in

  • victime d'une effraction

    victim of a break-in

Similar words

cambriolage: The crime of entering a home or building to steal its belongings.
intrusion: Entry onto someone else's property or into a building without permission.

Definition in French

Action d'entrer par la force dans un logement ou un local, par exemple en fracturant une porte ou une fenêtre.

Word origin

French effraction comes from Latin effractio, from effringere, formed with ex- or ef- 'out' and frangere 'to break', meaning a breaking open.

Usage tips

  • Effraction is feminine: une effraction, and it names forced entry or the resulting damage, not the theft itself.

Other meanings

  • burglarynoun

Word lists with this word