English Explanatory Dictionary

embezzle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To steal or misappropriate money that one has been trusted with, especially to steal money from the organisation for which one works.

Pronunciation

/ɪmˈbɛz.əl/ /ɛmˈbɛz.əl/ en-US embezzle.ogg /əmˈbɛz.əl/ /ɪmˈbez.əl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Jjamesryan-embezzle.wav

Word forms

embezzle embezzles embezzling embezzled

Etymology

From Middle English embesilen, from Anglo-Norman embesiler, embesillier, embeseillier (“to steal, cause to disappear”), from em- + Old French besillier (“to torment, destroy, gouge”), of unknown origin.

Synonyms

defalcate have one's hand in the till misappropriate peculate skim

Derived words

embezzlement embezzler unembezzled
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