Definition

A person who breaks into buildings to steal things, often using tools to unlock doors or windows.

Example

The police caught the cracksman trying to break into the jewelry store.

Conversation

Did you hear about that cracksman who got caught last night?

Yeah, I read about it! Seems like he was pretty clever.

I wonder how many times he actually got away with it before this.

Probably a lot — it's always surprising how skilled some of them can be.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cracksman → The word is formed from "crack" (from Middle English *crakken*, meaning to break or shatter) and "-sman" (a suffix denoting a person associated with a particular activity). A cracksman is thus a person who is skilled in breaking into places, particularly in the context of burglary.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who is skilled at 'breaking' ('crack') into places — that's why a cracksman is a person who breaks in.

Visually Confused Words