robbery

Meaning

1. (countable, uncountable) The act or practice of robbing.
2. (countable, uncountable) The offense of taking or attempting to take the property of another by force or threat of force.

Synonyms

theft

burglary

stealing

larceny

plunder

pillage

piracy

looting

brigandage

thievery

snatch

dacoity

robbing

banditry

loot

depredation

spoliation

mugging

hold-up

stick-up

heist

stealth

steal

rob

rapine

ransack

ravage

ravin

ravishment

rolling

sack

secret society

seizure

stick up

swindling

swoop

thieving

thuggery

trick

underworld

making a killing

making easy money

plunderage

spoilation

crime

infesting a road

despoilation

river piracy

river capture

stream piracy

Translations

robo

Raub

rapina

vol

✈️

roubo

rapina

pillage

beroving

ληστεία

assalto

furto

αρπαγή

ladreria

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɹɒbəɹi/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: robberie

Cognate with Dutch: roverij

Cognate with Norwegian Bokmål: røveri

Cognate with German: Räuberei

In summary

From Middle English robberie, robry, roberie, from Old French roberie, from the verb rober (“to steal; to pillage”) + -ie. Ultimately from unattested Frankish *raubōn. By surface analysis, rob + -ery. Compare Dutch roverij (“robbery”), Norwegian Bokmål røveri (“robbery”), German Räuberei (“robbery, banditry”).
Displaced native Old English rēaflāc.