Robin Hood

American  

noun

1. a legendary English outlaw of the 12th century, hero of many ballads, who robbed the rich to give to the poor: a popular model of courage, generosity and justice, as well as of skill in archery, he lived and presided over his band of followers chiefly in Sherwood Forest.

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Robin Hood British  

noun

1. a legendary English outlaw of the reign of Richard I, who according to tradition lived in Sherwood Forest and robbed the rich to give to the poor

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Robin Hood ¹ Cultural  

1. A legendary robber of the Middle Ages in England, who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. An excellent archer, he lived in Sherwood Forest with the fair Maid Marian, the stalwart Little John, the priest Friar Tuck, the musician Allan-a-Dale, and others who helped him rob rich landlords and thwart his chief enemy, the sheriff of Nottingham.

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Robin Hood ² Cultural  

1. A character of English legend, the subject of many ballads (see also ballad) and stories since the fourteenth century. (See under “Mythology and Folklore.”)

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Robin Hood

It found global fame after featuring in a scene of the 1991 film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner, and was popular with photographers and artists.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

Marketing materials and the film’s notes for journalists announce that this is a Robin Hood origin story, which is curious in several ways.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

The Death of Robin Hood is based on a 17th Century ballad of the outlaw, starring Hugh Jackman as the reflective, battle-weary titular character at the end of his life.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

Snake-oil salesmen, reptile traffickers, unidentified flying objects and Robin Hood: These are all part of Zach St. George’s account of the eccentric Australian men who changed how we name earth’s creatures.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

Robin Hood is at his heels, jumping and barking.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

Related Words

• charitable
• humanitarian
• magnanimous
• philanthropic