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 contractor turned out to have a criminal record, including convictions for armed robbery and drug offenses, according to the report.

From ProPublica

He said a co-worker who witnessed the shooting told him that the gunman announced a robbery but shot his father in the head before taking his wallet and fleeing.

From Washington Post

A 37-year-old Lexington Park man was arrested and charged with armed robbery, robbery, and first- and second-degree assault.

From Washington Post

A 17-year-old Leonardtown male was arrested and charged with armed robbery, robbery, and first- and second-degree assault.

From Washington Post

The brief spells of freedom when he wasn’t incarcerated were spent plotting robberies.

From Ozy

Hair Robbery Is Acutally A Crime in Venezuela: Women in Venezuela apparently need to be more protective over their hair.

From The Daily Beast

The Weather Underground Brinks Robbery, the last big fringe-violent left-wing attack that I remember, happened 32 years ago.

From The Daily Beast

There is no such charge as Murder of a Good Person or Robbery of a Bad Person.

From The Daily Beast

Robbery is supposed to have been the motive, and suspicion points in half-a-dozen directions.

From Project Gutenberg

To the left of the chief is the justice's clerk; and behind the bench is a placard, 'Robbery and Murder.

From Project Gutenberg

Robbery and public plunder were rampant in the State capital.

From Project Gutenberg

Robbery of women was practiced not only by the ancient Jews, but practically by all nations of antiquity.

From Project Gutenberg

Robbery and fighting and everything that is bad, between the newly arrived rebels and the city people.

From Project Gutenberg

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.