embezzle
C1Formal / Legal / Business
Definition
Meaning
To steal or misappropriate money or property placed in one's trust or belonging to one's employer.
To fraudulently take assets for one's own use by someone in a position of trust, often involving the falsification of records.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term implies a breach of fiduciary duty. It is almost exclusively used for financial or property theft by employees, officials, or those in positions of responsibility. It suggests a process over time, not a single impulsive act.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage. The spelling and legal application are identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, the word carries strong connotations of white-collar crime, deceit, and breach of trust.
Frequency
Similar frequency in legal, financial, and news contexts. Rare in casual conversation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Agent] embezzled [Asset] from [Source/Organization][Agent] embezzled [Asset]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cook the books (related activity)”
- “Line one's pockets (related outcome)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The treasurer was found to have embezzled over £200,000 from the pension fund.
Academic
The study examined the psychological justifications used by individuals who embezzle.
Everyday
You hear about people embezzling from charities—it's awful. (Note: word itself is formal; concept discussed informally)
Technical
The forensic accountant traced how the CFO embezzled funds through dummy shell companies.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The clerk attempted to embezzle client deposits over a three-year period.
- He was imprisoned for embezzling charity funds.
American English
- The city manager embezzled tax revenue to fund her lifestyle.
- They uncovered a scheme to embezzle from the corporate travel budget.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverb form. 'Embezzlingly' is non-standard and unused.)
- The act was done fraudulently, not *embezzlingly.
American English
- N/A (No standard adverb form. Use 'fraudulently' instead.)
- The money was taken deceitfully, not *embezzlingly.
adjective
British English
- The embezzled funds were traced to an offshore account. (past participle used adjectivally)
- He faced charges for the embezzled money.
American English
- The embezzled assets were finally recovered. (past participle used adjectivally)
- Investigators followed the trail of the embezzled donations.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Concept too advanced for A2. Use 'steal' instead.)
- The bank manager was arrested for stealing money from the bank. (Introducing concept with simpler vocabulary)
- The accountant was accused of embezzling a significant amount of money from the company.
- The charity's director was found guilty of having embezzled over half a million pounds in donations, systematically falsifying records to conceal the fraud.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BEE-ZLE (a fuzzy, dishonest creature) sneaking into the EMPLOYEE's (em-) cash register to steal. The employee EM-BEE-ZZLE-d the money.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRUST IS A CONTAINER (breached); HONESTY IS STRAIGHT (actions are crooked).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not equivalent to "растрачивать" which can mean 'to waste/spend lavishly' without the criminal fraud element.
- Closer to "присвоить (деньги, средства)" in a criminal/legal context.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for simple theft or robbery (e.g., 'He embezzled a wallet' - incorrect).
- Confusing 'embezzle' (steal from employer/trust) with 'misappropriate' (broader misuse of anything entrusted).
Practice
Quiz
In which situation is the word 'embezzle' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Steal' is general. 'Rob' involves force or threat, typically from a person or place. 'Embezzle' is a specific type of stealing where the thief is in a position of trust over the assets, like an employee or official.
Primarily money or financial assets. It can extend to property or goods of value, but the core concept is fraudulent conversion of entrusted assets for personal use.
Embezzlement. A person who does it is an embezzler.
Not typically. It's a formal, legal, and journalistic term. In casual talk, people might say 'stole from the company' or 'ripped off the firm'.
Explore