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 of larceny

• robbery
• stealing
• theft

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

Jail records show Bryant, 51, has been charged with three counts of embezzlement, fraud and one count of grand theft larceny. —Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026

Brown, previously convicted of armed robbery and felony larceny and breaking and entering, came back to court when he was supposed to, court records show. —Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2026

The six months Tran received for pleading guilty to larceny of a firearm, misleading law enforcement in a criminal investigation, and filing an application for a license to carry containing false information were served concurrently with the federal charges. —Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 7 June 2026

Kathrine Dunn, 48, of New London, was taken into custody on an active arrest warrant on June 1 and charged with first-degree larceny, according to the New London Police Department. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 5 June 2026

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