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

In 1994, Tupac was shot and injured during a robbery in the lobby of a studio.

From BBC

The offenses committed by federal death row inmates include drug-related murders, a murder in a national park, killings during terrorist attacks, and the fatal shooting of a bank guard during a robbery.

From Slate

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

From BBC

Cavendish and his family were the victims of a violent robbery at their home in 2021.

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