larceny

noun

lar·​ce·​ny ˈlär-sə-nē 

ˈlär-snē

plural larcenies

: the unlawful taking of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it permanently

was arrested and charged with larceny

Synonyms

• robbery
• stealing
• theft
• thievery

Examples of larceny in a Sentence

He was arrested and charged with larceny.

He has been accused of several larcenies.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hemingway, who was also charged with larceny and money laundering, is being held in pretrial detention at the Osborn Correctional Institution in Somers on $2 million bail. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 23 May 2025

He was charged with two counts of larceny of a motor vehicle and interfering with a search. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2025

His convictions include first-degree murder with a weapon, battery, larceny, as well as possession and trafficking of cocaine. —Dan Gooding billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025

The national federal estimates that larceny incidents increased by 93% in 2023 compared to 2019. —Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 15 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French larecin theft, from Latin latrocinium robbery, from latron-, latro mercenary soldier, probably from Greek *latrōn, from latron pay

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing larceny

• grand larceny
• petit larceny
• petty larceny

Kids Definition

larceny

noun

lar·​ce·​ny ˈlärs-nē 

-ᵊn-ē

plural larcenies

: the unlawful taking of personal property with the intention of depriving the rightful owner of it permanently : theft

larcenous

-nəs

-ᵊn-əs

adjective

Legal Definition

larceny

noun

lar·​ce·​ny ˈlär-sə-nē 

plural larcenies

: the unlawful taking and carrying away of personal property with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it permanently

also : any of several types of theft (as embezzlement or obtaining another's property by false pretenses) that have been traditionally distinguished from larceny

Note: Under the Model Penal Code and in states that follow it, larceny is a type of theft. In states where larceny is currently defined as a separate crime, it may include the crimes that were distinct from it under common law.

— grand larceny

: felonious larceny of property having a value greater than an amount fixed by law

also : larceny accompanied by aggravating circumstances (as the use of threats)

— larceny by trick

: larceny of property obtained by the use of misrepresentation especially in getting an owner to hand over something in the belief that it is for temporary purposes compare false pretenses

— larceny from the person

: larceny of property held by or within the immediate control of its owner

— petit larceny \ ˈpe-​tē-​ \

: larceny of property having a market value below an amount fixed by law

called also petty larceny

Note: Petit larceny is a misdemeanor.

Etymology

modification of Anglo-French larcine theft, from Old French larrecin, from Latin latrocinium robbery, from latron-, latro mercenary soldier, brigand