noun

arson

AHR-suhn/ˈɑːrsn/

The crime of deliberately setting property on fire.

The person commits arson by deliberately setting the wooden shed alight.

Non-graphic crime scene illustration: adult in ordinary dark clothing deliberately holds a burning torch against an abandoned wooden shed wall already catching a small flame; visible intent, no accelerant, no steps or instructions, no people endangered.

Etymology

Latin arsio meant “a burning,” from ardere, “to burn.” That general action became the English name for the specific crime of deliberately burning property.

In context

Shawn Ryan Show91:19

they get charged wow and that's what we started doing so i started charging the inmates um you know if they lit something on fire they get charged with arson

Bernie Kerik - NYPD Police Commissioner on 9/11/2001 | SRS #013

More examples

Police arrested a suspect on an arson charge.
The report distinguished arson from an accidental fire.
Several buildings had been damaged by arson.

Forms

arson