Embezzle

Part of Speech

Verb

Pronunciation

/ɪmˈbɛz.əl/ (American English)

/ɪmˈbɛz.l̩/ (British English)

Definitions

• To secretly take money or property entrusted to one’s care and use it for personal gain.
• To fraudulently appropriate funds or assets that belong to an employer or organization.

Usage Examples

• "The accountant was arrested for attempting to embezzle company funds."
• "He was charged with embezzling millions from the charity organization."
• "The scandal revealed that government officials had been embezzling public funds for years."

Etymology

Derived from Middle English ‘embesilen,’ meaning ‘to steal or misappropriate,’ which itself comes from Old French ‘embesiller.’ The word has been in use since the 15th century.

Synonyms

• Misappropriate
• Defraud
• Steal
• Pilfer
• Swindle

Antonyms

• Repay
• Return
• Compensate
• Reimburse

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

In some English dialects, the second syllable is pronounced with a softer ‘z’ sound, while in others it may be more pronounced with a stronger ‘z’ or ‘s’ sound.

Historical Usage

The term has been used in legal and financial contexts for centuries, especially in cases of corporate fraud, government scandals, and misappropriation of public funds.

Cultural Nuances

Embezzlement is often associated with white-collar crime, corporate fraud, and corruption in business or government institutions. Laws against embezzlement vary across countries but are generally regarded as serious financial crimes.

More Information

Notable embezzlement cases throughout history include high-profile financial fraud cases in banking, investment, and nonprofit sectors. Many governments have strict legal frameworks to prosecute those found guilty of embezzlement.