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casseur

rioter

noun kah-SUR Rare
People & Society Crime

Also means

burglar

Usage Note

Casseur literally means 'one who breaks' (from casser, 'to break'). In media and political discourse it specifically denotes a person who vandalises property during protests or riots — a sense that became especially prominent after the gilets jaunes protests of 2018-2019. In a separate everyday sense it can mean a scrap metal dealer or breaker's yard operator.

Examples

"Des casseurs ont brisé des vitrines en centre-ville."

Natural Translation

Rioters smashed shop windows in the city centre.

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