robbery

[ rob-uh-ree ]

noun

, plural rob·ber·ies.

1. the act, the practice, or an instance of robbing.

   Synonyms: burglary, theft, pillage, plunder

2. Law. the felonious taking of someone's property from their person or in their immediate presence, against their will, by violence or intimidation.

robbery

/ ˈrɒbərɪ /

noun

1. criminal law the stealing of property from a person by using or threatening to use force
2. the act or an instance of robbing

Other Words From

• anti·robber·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of robbery¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English robberie from Old French. See rob, -ery

Idioms and Phrases

see daylight robbery ; highway robbery .

Example Sentences

The Los Angeles Police Department recently arrested two suspects in connection with a serial “kidnap for robbery” scheme and are searching for additional victims.

From Los Angeles Times

Davis, who was captured by the FBI, pleaded guilty in February to robbery and gun charges.

From Los Angeles Times

It was the biggest robbery ever carried out in the Metropolitan Police district, with 120 detectives working on the case.

From BBC

The theft made global headlines, and was nicknamed “the grate cheese robbery”.

From BBC

He was eventually deported around 2008 after spending 14 years in prison for a robbery conviction.

From BBC

Related Words

• break in
• burglary
• embezzlement
• felony
• heist
• holdup
• larceny
• looting
• mugging
• theft
• wrongdoing

More About Robbery

What does robbery mean?

Robbery is the act of robbing—stealing, especially by force or through threats of violence.

Someone who commits robbery is called a robber.

Robbery can involve robbing a person or a place, such as a house or business. The robbery of a person on the street is often called a mugging. The act of robbing a bank is called bank robbery. Armed robbery involves robbing a person or place while armed with a weapon.

Robbery is a kind of theft, which is the act of stealing. However, the word theft often refers to a case in which a thief steals something without anyone noticing, at least not when the theft is taking place. In contrast, a case in which a person steals by using force, violence, or threats of violence would more likely be called a robbery.

The word rob can also be used in a kind of figurative way meaning to unfairly deprive someone of something, but robbery is usually only used in a literal sense.

Example: Police have released sketches of the suspects in the hopes that someone can identify the men involved in the robbery.

Where does robbery come from?

The first records of the word robbery come from the 1100s. It comes from the Middle English robberie.

The word robbery is commonly used in the term bank robbery. That’s probably because money is the most popular thing to steal, and the bank is where the money is.

The word robbery appears in the term highway robbery, which refers to excessive overcharging. It likens a price that’s considered way too high to theft, as in Ten bucks for a hot dog? That’s highway robbery!

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to robbery?

• robber (noun)
• rob (verb)

What are some words that share a root or word element with robbery? 

• armed robbery
• highway robbery

What are some words that often get used in discussing robbery?

 

• bank
• armed
• suspect
• crime
• burglary
• mugging
• steal
• theft
• store
• money
• valuables

How is robbery used in real life?

You’re most likely to encounter the word robbery in news reports.

Help the #FBI bring violent criminals to justice. If you have a tip that could lead to the identification or arrest of individuals responsible for murder, rape, robbery, or aggravated assault, visit https://t.co/iL7sD5efWD. #TipTuesday https://t.co/SXrw0JUd0V pic.twitter.com/2y1HWdBJFL

— FBI (@FBI) September 29, 2020

Please see the following Press Release and Suspect information regarding the bank robbery at Citizen's Bank inside the Stop & Shop on Chauncy St. If you have any information about this suspect, please contact MPD at our tip line 508-261-7356, or send us a direct message. pic.twitter.com/WwbEQGKxDK

— Mansfield Police MA (@MansfieldMAPD) December 17, 2020

The Asheville Police Department says their suspect in an armed bank robbery Tuesday matches the physical description of the suspect from another bank robbery last week. https://t.co/PdmR2BuIC5

— WLOS (@WLOS_13) December 17, 2020

 

 

Try using robbery!

Is robbery used correctly in the following sentence? 

The movie is about a bank robbery that goes terribly wrong.