petty larceny

noun

, Law.

1. larceny in which the value of the goods taken is below a certain legally specified amount.

petty larceny

noun

1. a variant spelling of petit larceny

Word History and Origins

Origin of petty larceny¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Four years later, she was charged with grand and petty larceny for spending more than $110,000 on a stolen credit card.

From Washington Times

Mr. Dalesandro has been charged with armed robbery with a deadly weapon, wearing a mask and petty larceny involving less than $2,000.

From Washington Times

It also called for prosecutors to treat certain armed robberies as misdemeanor petty larcenies if there is no risk of physical harm, and to forbid pretrial bail except in “very serious cases.”

From Washington Times

They face one felony charge of burglary into an occupied dwelling and one misdemeanour charge of petty larceny.

From BBC

"From a landlord’s perspective, from storeowner’s perspective, we’re terrified of this, his policies and what not. Armed robbery of a store is now a petty larceny? What insanity is this?" he said.

From Fox News