bandit

[ban-dit]

noun

plural

bandits ,

plural

banditti .

1. a robber, especially a member of a gang or marauding band.

   Synonyms: desperado, brigand

2. an outlaw or highwayman.

   Synonyms: desperado, brigand

3. Informal.

   1. a person who takes unfair advantage of others, as a merchant who overcharges; swindler; cheat.

   2. a vendor, cab driver, etc., who operates a business or works without a required license or permit, and without observing the usual rules or practices.

4. Military Informal.,  an enemy aircraft, especially an attacking fighter.

bandit

/ ˈbændɪt /

noun

1. a robber, esp a member of an armed gang; brigand

Other Word Forms

• banditry noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bandit¹

First recorded in 1585–95; earlier bandetto, plural banditti, from Italian banditi “outlaws,” plural of bandito “proscribed,” past participle of bandire “banish, exile, announce publicly,” from Gothic bandwjan “to make a sign, indicate” ( band ¹ ) with verb suffix -ire, from Latin -īre

Word History and Origins

Origin of bandit¹

C16: from Italian bandito , literally: banished man, from bandire to proscribe, from bando edict, _ban ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. make out like a bandit, to be extremely successful; profit greatly.

   The early investors in the company have made out like bandits.

Example Sentences

Although bandits have no ideological leanings and are motivated by financial gain, their increasing alliance with jihadists from the northeast has been a source of concern for authorities and security analysts.

Read more on Barron's

The stripe-tailed mammals, also nicknamed "backyard bandits", are widespread across the contiguous US.

Read more on BBC

“Those are the true bandits, demanding our rubles or else! ‘You are out of credit,’ they say.

Read more on Literature

They even carried slingshots loaded with very hard acorns, in case they met up with dangerous mail bandits along their postal route.

Read more on Literature

Eyewitnesses described a large group of attackers, known locally as bandits, who arrived firing sporadically to cause panic.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• criminal 
• gangster 
• hooligan 
• marauder 
• mobster 
• outlaw 
• pirate 
• raider 
• robber