robber

[rob-er]

noun

1. a person who robs.

   Synonyms: burglar, brigand, bandit, highwayman

Word History and Origins

Origin of robber¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English robbere, from Old French robere. See rob, -er ¹

Synonym Study

See thief.

Example Sentences

With its slow pacing, shaky handheld cameras, dishwater cinematography and unnervingly extreme closeups, it feels more like an intense indie drama than a whimsical tale of a robber with a peculiar M.O.

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Cope's book series features cute animals using gadgets to solve crimes, catch robbers and undertake daredevil missions.

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The books feature cute animals using gadgets to solve crimes, catch robbers and undertake daredevil missions.

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Hooded robbers drove through the San José jewelry store and filled trash bags with merchandise.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

At the jail, she found an inmate eager to help — Anthony Brown, a bank robber waiting to be transported to state prison on a 423-year prison sentence.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bandit 
• burglar 
• con artist 
• crook 
• looter www.thesaurus.com
• marauder 
• mugger 
• pickpocket 
• pirate 
• raider 
• rustler 
• shoplifter 
• swindler 
• thief 
• thug 

When To Use

What does robber mean?

A robber is a person who robs—steals, especially by force or through threats of violence.In other words, a robber is someone who commits robbery.A robber can rob a person or a place, such as a house or business. A robber who robs a person on the street is often called a mugger. A person who robs a bank is called a bank robber and the act of doing this is called bank robbery. An armed robber is a person who commits armed robbery, which involves robbing a person or place while armed with a weapon.A robber is a kind of thief, which is a person who steals things. However, the word thief usually refers to a person who steals without anyone noticing, at least not when the theft is taking place. In contrast, a person who steals by using force, violence, or threats of force or violence would more likely be called a robber.The word rob can also be used in a kind of figurative way meaning to unfairly deprive someone of something, but robber is only used to refer to someone who robs in the literal sense.Example: Police have released sketches of the suspects in the hopes that someone can identify the bank robbers.