WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
em•bez•zle /ɛmˈbɛzəl/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -zled, -zling.
em•bez•zler /ɛmˈbɛzlɚ/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to steal (money) entrusted to one's care:He embezzled thousands of dollars from the insurance company.
em•bez•zler /ɛmˈbɛzlɚ/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
em•bez•zle
(em bez′əl),USA pronunciation v.t., -zled, -zling.
em•bez′zle•ment, n.
em•bez′zler, n.
- 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′zler, n.
- misappropriate.