embezzle

UK: /ɪmˈbɛz^əl/ US: /ɛmˈbɛzəl/ ,(em bez′əl)

Inflections of 'embezzle' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

embezzles

v 3rd person singular

embezzling

v pres p

embezzled

v past

embezzled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

em•bez•zle /ɛmˈbɛzəl/   v. [~ + object] , -zled, -zling. 

1. to steal (money) entrusted to one's care:
   He embezzled thousands of dollars from the insurance company.

em•bez•zle•ment, n. 

[uncountable] imprisoned for stock embezzlement.

em•bez•zler /ɛmˈbɛzlɚ/  n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

em•bez•zle  (em bez′əl), v.t., -zled, -zling. 

1. to appropriate fraudulently to one's own use, as money or property entrusted to one's care.

• ?
• Anglo-French embeseiller to destroy, make away with, equivalent. to em- em-¹ + beseiller, Old French beseiller to destroy
• late Middle English embesilen 1375–1425

em•bez′zle•ment, n. 
em•bez′zler, n. 
Synonyms

misappropriate.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

embezzle / ɪmˈbɛz^əl/ verb

1. to convert (money or property entrusted to one) fraudulently to one's own use

Etymology: 15th Century: from Anglo-French embeseiller to destroy, from Old French beseiller to make away with, of uncertain origin

emˈbezzlement noun

emˈbezzler noun