Jump to:

• raffles
  raffles

  noun

  a gentlemanly burglar, amateur housebreaker, or the like.
• Raffles
  Raffles

  noun

  Sir Thomas Stamford, 1781–1826, English colonial administrator in the East Indies.

raffles

¹ American  

[raf-uhlz] / ˈræf əlz /

noun

(often initial capital letter)

1. a gentlemanly burglar, amateur housebreaker, or the like.

---

Raffles ² American  

[raf-uhlz] / ˈræf əlz /

noun

1. Sir Thomas Stamford, 1781–1826, English colonial administrator in the East Indies.

---

Raffles British  

/ ˈræfəlz /

noun

1. Sir Thomas Stamford . 1781–1826, British colonial administrator: founded Singapore (1819) as a station for the British East India Company

---

Etymology

Origin of raffles

1925–30; after Raffles, hero of The Amateur Cracksman, by E. W. Hornung (1866–1921), English novelist

Example Sentences

Now 29, Skuse is the founder and CEO of Molto Music Group, a music and entertainment agency that counts high end names like The Dorchester, The Savoy, Soho House and Raffles as clients.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2026

As always with these assignments, we had limited time but thankfully we were shooting at the wonderful Raffles in London and Luis, Catherine and Jenna were so wonderful.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

Known to the children as “aunty” or “grandma,” Johnson would treat them to dips in the pool at the Raffles and doted on them at the center.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025

The best spots are already taken by a Pullman, a Raffles, and other luxury hotels.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 29, 2023

His friend Raden Rana Dipura, a Javanese ‘chief’ and accomplished musician, travelled with Raffles to England in 1816 and performed in London on a number of occasions.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall