housebreaking: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low to mediumFormal, legal, technical (veterinary/animal training)
Quick answer
What does “housebreaking” mean?
The act of illegally entering a building, especially a dwelling, with intent to commit a crime (typically theft).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of illegally entering a building, especially a dwelling, with intent to commit a crime (typically theft).
1) The act of training a domestic animal (especially a puppy or kitten) to urinate and defecate outdoors or in a designated litter box. 2) (Obsolete/Historical) The act of breaking into a building to commit a crime.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, the 'illegal entry' meaning is largely archaic in everyday language, mostly found in historical or formal legal texts. The animal training meaning is standard. In the US, both meanings are current, with the animal training meaning being more common in everyday speech, and the 'burglary' meaning still used in some legal contexts (though 'burglary' is dominant).
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with pet training. US: Can cause mild confusion due to dual meaning; legal connotation is more present than in the UK.
Frequency
More frequent in the US than the UK, primarily due to the continued, though specialized, use of the legal term.
Grammar
How to Use “housebreaking” in a Sentence
The [noun] is undergoing housebreaking.[Subject] was arrested for housebreaking.The [method] aids in housebreaking.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “housebreaking” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We are currently housebreaking our new Labrador puppy.
- (Archaic) The gang was accused of housebreaking several properties in Mayfair.
American English
- It took three months to fully housebreak our rescue dog.
- The suspect has a prior conviction for housebreaking.
adverb
British English
- This is not a standard adverbial form.
- This is not a standard adverbial form.
American English
- This is not a standard adverbial form.
- This is not a standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- A housebreaking manual for new pet owners.
- (Archaic) Housebreaking implements were found in his possession.
American English
- Follow these housebreaking tips for a faster result.
- He faced housebreaking charges in addition to theft.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not typically used.
Academic
Used in legal history or criminology papers for the burglary sense; in veterinary/animal behavior studies for the training sense.
Everyday
Overwhelmingly refers to training pets where to eliminate.
Technical
Specific term in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine; occasionally in archaic legal terminology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “housebreaking”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “housebreaking”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “housebreaking”
- Using 'housebreaking' to mean 'renovating' or 'demolishing a house'.
- Confusing it with 'housewarming'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in the context of pet training, they are perfect synonyms. 'Housetraining' is perhaps slightly more common in the UK.
Yes, but primarily in the pet training sense (e.g., 'to housebreak a puppy'). Its use as a verb for burglary is archaic.
The animal training meaning is far more common in everyday English. The burglary meaning is specialized, legal, or historical.
Yes, though for cats, 'litter training' is a more specific and common term. 'Housebreaking' a cat generally means training it to use a litter box consistently.
The act of illegally entering a building, especially a dwelling, with intent to commit a crime (typically theft).
Housebreaking is usually formal, legal, technical (veterinary/animal training) in register.
Housebreaking: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊsˌbreɪkɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊsˌbreɪkɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Housebreaking a puppy is a marathon, not a sprint.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of two doors: one is a HOUSE door being broken (burglary), the other is a dog door for a puppy to BREAK its habit of going indoors (training).
Conceptual Metaphor
TRAINING IS CONSTRUCTION (building good habits); CRIME IS FORCE (breaking into).
Practice
Quiz
In a modern British conversation about pets, 'housebreaking' most likely refers to: