Showing results for "racketeering"

• present participle of racketeer.

racketeering

American  

[rak-i-teer-ing] / ˌræk ɪˈtɪər ɪŋ /

noun

1. the practice of conducting or engaging in a racket, as extortion or bootlegging.

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Other Word Forms

• antiracketeering
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of racketeering

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30; racketeer + -ing ¹

Explanation

Someone who's guilty of racketeering has been participating in something illegal, most likely organized crime or criminal business dealings. You can use the noun racket to describe an illegal scheme or plan, and racketeering to mean the act of running or engaging in a racket. The word comes up most often when someone is being accused or arrested or convicted of this type of criminal activity. The root of both racket and racketeering is probably racquet, with its connection to the idea of a game.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

racketeering

Under his plea deal with US authorities, Zambada faced a mandatory minimum term of life imprisonment without parole on a racketeering charge.

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

But Guo was later convicted on charges of racketeering, fraud and money laundering.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

Johnson was imprisoned late last year for contempt of court after being found civilly liable for $71 million in damages in a civil racketeering case.

From Slate ● May 28, 2026

Under the first, he wrote RICO, a reference to the racketeering law.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026

They were mostly in for white-collar crimes, money schemes, fraud and racketeering.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah