French Conversation · Level 153
30 words
French word
incendiaire
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛ̃sɑ̃djɛʁ/
Meaning
- noun (m./f.)arsonist
Example
La police a arrêté l'incendiaire hier soir.
The police arrested the arsonist last night.
More examples
Ils ont vu l'incendiaire fuir près du parking.
They saw the arsonist flee near the parking lot.
Core concept
A deliberate fire-setter whose words or actions can also ignite collective anger.
Common phrases
l'incendiaire présumé
the suspected arsonist
arrêter l'incendiaire
arrest the arsonist
un incendiaire récidiviste
a repeat arsonist
Similar words
pyromane: Someone unable to resist a strong urge to set things on fire.
criminel: Someone who carries out criminal acts.
Definition in French
Désigne une personne qui met volontairement le feu à un lieu ou un objet ; par extension, personne qui cherche à provoquer des troubles ou attiser les passions par ses paroles ou ses actes.
Word origin
French incendiaire is formed from the Latin family of incendium, meaning fire, with the suffix -aire indicating a person or relation to it.
Usage tips
- The noun has the same form for both genders: un incendiaire and une incendiaire, with the article showing the gender.