petit larceny

noun

: larceny involving property of a value below a legally established minimum

Examples of petit larceny in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web According to the most recent crime statistics from the New York Police Department’s 25th precinct, which covers the East Harlem area where the mall is located, shoplifting (classified as petit larceny, or theft of property valued at $1,000 or less) has jumped 47% over the past two years. Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 30 Sep. 2023 But yeah, boosters, somebody who is doing the petit larceny pretty consistently, to the extent that there is an uptick going on—which is a matter of debate—they’re the people that are driving it. The Politics Of Everything, The New Republic, 25 Oct. 2023 Bragg's office downgraded the charge to petit larceny, the New York Post reported. Rebecca Rosenberg, Fox News, 5 Feb. 2022 In January, Miller pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor unlawful trespass charge at Vermont's Bennington County Superior Court in an agreement with prosecutors to drop two charges, including felony burglary and petit larceny — so long as the actor does not violate a yearlong probation order. Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 30 May 2023 October 17, 2022: Miller pleads not guilty to one count each of burglary and petit larceny in Vermont Superior Court for charges of stealing liquor from their neighbor’s unoccupied house. Vulture, 3 May 2023 The actor entered not guilty pleas to the felony burglary and petit larceny charges in October. Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 11 Jan. 2023 Miller pleads not guilty to one count each of burglary and petit larceny in Vermont Superior Court for charges of stealing liquor from their neighbor’s unoccupied house. Vulture, 13 Jan. 2023 As of June 19, New York City saw a 42.5% increase in petit larceny incidents year-to-date, with 51,041 cases reported so far this year compared with 35,815 during the same period last year, according to New York Police Department citywide crime statistics. Fox News, 28 June 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'petit 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

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of petit larceny was circa 1580

Dictionary Entries Near petit larceny

Cite this Entry

“Petit larceny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petit%20larceny. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Legal Definition

petit larceny

see larceny

More from Merriam-Webster on petit larceny

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