robbery

[rob-uh-ree]

noun

plural

robberies 

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 Word Forms

• antirobbery 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

“Applying terrorism charges even where you believe individuals have burned down buildings or committed robbery is excessive,” said Irungu Houghton, head of Amnesty International’s Kenya office.

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Prowell has yet to enter a plea to charges of murder, attempted murder, carjacking, robbery, burglary and assault.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A reputed member of the Locas, Wertz allegedly impersonated an FBI agent in an attempted home invasion robbery in February, hammering on the front door while holding a gun.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It says up to 80 more officers are joining the West End team to focus on crimes such as phone robbery.

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The 35-year-old pleaded guilty in December 2025 to charges of robbery, dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen of blood for analysis, driving without a licence and without insurance.

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Related Words

• break in 
• burglary 
• embezzlement 
• felony 
• heist 
• holdup 
• larceny 
• looting www.thesaurus.com
• mugging 
• theft 
• wrongdoing 

When To Use

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.