larceny

[ lahr-suh-nee ]

/ ˈlɑr sə ni /

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noun, plural lar·ce·nies.Law.

the wrongful taking of someone's property or goods, removing them from their owner's posession with intent to convert them to the taker's own use.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Compare grand larceny, petty larceny.

Origin of larceny

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English larceni, from Anglo-French larcin “theft,” from Latin latrōcinium “robbery” (equivalent to latrōcin(ārī) “to rob,” originally “serve as mercenary soldier” (derivative of latrō “hired soldier, robber”) + -ium -ium) + -y³

Words nearby larceny

la raza, larboard, LARC, larcener, larcenous, larceny, larch, Larch River, larch sawfly, lard, lardaceous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use larceny in a sentence

Aggravated assaults were up while larcenies and robberies were down.
Metro Transit Police propose ban on passengers arrested for a sex or firearms offense|Justin George|July 13, 2021|Washington Post
Law enforcement is actually treating it like … they would treat any other type of larceny or any other type of theft.
Wage Theft Is Common for Low-Level Workers, and Officials Are Starting to Take Notice|Jesse Marx and Maya Srikrishnan|May 19, 2021|Voice of San Diego
Moawad-Barrientos has been charged with two felony counts of larceny by false pretenses and was arrested Wednesday and taken to the Fairfax County jail, before being released on bond.
Former Va. Senate candidate charged with fraudulently practicing law|Justin Jouvenal|May 12, 2021|Washington Post
With a 27% increase in bike thefts but fewer arrests for bike larceny compared to last year, bikers can’t expect to recover their stolen wheels, and bike theft can be both discouraging and costly.
E-Bikes Are Taking Off—But We Need to Make Space for Them|Patrick Lucas Austin|January 22, 2021|Time

The stories take viewers from the women’s childhoods through the ups and downs of their criminal activity, which spans drug trafficking, money fraud, and grand larceny, to their moment of redemption on the other side of the law.
Lil Kim Shares The One Thing She Wants Viewers To Take Away From BET+ Show ‘Trap Queens:’ ‘Everybody Has A Past’|Brande Victorian|January 14, 2021|Essence.com
Harris, a resident of Boerum Hill, is charged with two counts of grand larceny and possession of stolen property.
Brooklyn’s ‘Bad Grandma’ Arrested for Purse-Snatching (VIDEO)|Alex Chancey|June 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A records check showed that he was wanted for grand larceny in Virginia, and he spent several months in jail there.
Accused Central Park Rapist’s Sordid Past|Michael Daly|September 15, 2012|DAILY BEAST
If you take my stuff without my consent, it's called larceny.
The Bogus Assange Rape Case|Wendy Murphy|December 13, 2010|DAILY BEAST
I remained, at that point, unconvinced that Marshall was guilty of the grand larceny count.
I Was an Astor Trial Juror|Philip Bump|October 9, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Only a handful of counts remained on which to reach a verdict, including the one of grand larceny.
I Was an Astor Trial Juror|Philip Bump|October 9, 2009|DAILY BEAST
If the finder knows who the owner is or has a reasonable clue to the ownership, which he disregards, he is guilty of larceny.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
At the same time another law was passed, disfranchising all voters who had been found guilty at any time of petty larceny.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey
In the words of the police-captain, he would not add larceny to burglary.
American Sketches|Charles Whibley
They look upon a well-known name as of the same value as a fire or a case of larceny.
Roland Cashel|Charles James Lever
A youth, imperfectly acquainted with English, was charged with the larceny of an overcoat from his fellow-lodger.
The Incendiary|W. A. (William Augustine) Leahy

British Dictionary definitions for larceny

larceny

/ (ˈlɑːsɪnɪ) /

noun plural -nies

law (formerly) a technical word for theft

Derived forms of larceny

larcenist or larcener, nounlarcenous, adjectivelarcenously, adverb

Word Origin for larceny

C15: from Old French larcin, from Latin lātrocinium robbery, from latrō robber

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

Cultural definitions for larceny

larceny

[ (lahr-suh-nee) ]

Theft; taking another person's property with the intent of permanently depriving the owner.

larceny

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Origin of larceny

Words nearby larceny

Words related to larceny

How to use larceny in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for larceny

Derived forms of larceny

Word Origin for larceny

Cultural definitions for larceny