larceny

noun

lar·ce·ny ˈlär-sə-nē

ˈlär-snē

plural larcenies

Synonyms of larceny next

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

was arrested and charged with larceny

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 California leads the nation in this kind of larceny, according to a report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, a nonprofit that’s focused on preventing insurance crime. —

Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2023 According to a Sheriff's Office news release Thursday, detectives with the Sheriff's Special Victims Unit submitted information to the Juvenile Justice Division alleging that two counts of larceny of a firearm and a charge of manslaughter were warranted in the girl's killing. —

Joseph Pierre, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2023 Chad Woods, 41, was arrested on charges of second-degree murder and larceny of a motor vehicle in connection with the death of Jeffery McKay, 39, according to a press release from the Person County Sheriff’s Office. —

Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 16 Aug. 2023 An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt: John R. Miller, 59, of the 2800 block of Breckinridge Circle, Aurora, was arrested on a charge of theft-all other larceny at 9:25 a.m. Aug. 15 in the 1500 block of Harvey Road, Oswego. —

Steve Metsch, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2023 The three face several felony counts, including two counts of kidnapping and child enticement, two counts of unlawful imprisonment, one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and child enticement, and three counts of larceny in a building. —

Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 24 Aug. 2023 The department’s Special Victims Unit detectives filed a complaint to the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) on Friday to charge the boy with one count of manslaughter and two counts of larceny of a firearm. —

Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 13 Aug. 2023 Read full article All three are are charged with breaking and entering, conspiracy, and larceny, according to court records. —

Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2023 Woods is also facing a larceny of a motor vehicle charge for allegedly stealing McKay's truck, Morris said. —

Julianne McShane, NBC News, 14 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'larceny.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of larceny was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Larceny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/larceny. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.

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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