grand larceny

American

noun

Law.

larceny in which the value of the goods taken is above a certain legally specified amount.

grand larceny British

noun

(formerly in England) the theft of property valued at over 12 pence. Abolished in 1827
(in some states of the US) the theft of property of which the value is above a specified figure, varying from state to state but usually being between $25 and $60

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of grand larceny

First recorded in 1840–50

Compare meaning

How does grand-larceny compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

larceny vs. grand larceny

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He arrived at Liverpool from AS Roma on 23 June 2017 for £34m, a fee now resembling an act of grand larceny when set against what he subsequently achieved.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Michael Williams, who’s been investigating this suspected case of grand larceny.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2024

Montgomery was among six people charged with conspiracy, attempted grand larceny and making false statements in relation to the campaign donations plot.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 2, 2024

Mr. Beale is charged with grand larceny in the first degree and several other felonies and was released on his own recognizance.

From New York Times • Mar. 22, 2023

As for Father Michael Antoniou, he was later convicted of attempted grand larceny and served two years in prison.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023