Showing Results for "racketeering"

See Also:

• present participle of racketeer.

racketeering

American  

[rak-i-teer-ing] / ˌræk ɪˈtɪər ɪŋ /

noun

1. the practice of conducting or engaging in a racket, as extortion or bootlegging.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antiracketeering
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of racketeering

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30; racketeer + -ing ¹

Explanation

Someone who's guilty of racketeering has been participating in something illegal, most likely organized crime or criminal business dealings. You can use the noun racket to describe an illegal scheme or plan, and racketeering to mean the act of running or engaging in a racket. The word comes up most often when someone is being accused or arrested or convicted of this type of criminal activity. The root of both racket and racketeering is probably racquet, with its connection to the idea of a game.

Example Sentences

Racketeering became a federal crime in 1970 under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2024

U.S. lawmakers passed the federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act in 1970 to battle organized crime, notably the mafia.

From Reuters • Aug. 15, 2023

She believes that Weinstein’s actions, which included his ex-attorneys Lisa Bloom and David Boies as well as the spy and intelligence firm Black Cube Strategies, violated the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act.

From Fox News • Dec. 7, 2021

Racketeering laws are a preferred legal avenue for prosecutors going after the Mafia and other forms of organized crime.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 2, 2021

The Chicago Task Force, the Arizona Racketeering Unit, the Legion of Doom, the Phrack crowd, the Electronic Frontier Foundation—they ALL look and act like "tiger teams" or "user's groups."

From The Hacker Crackdown, law and disorder on the electronic frontier by Sterling, Bruce