racketeer

1 of 2

noun

rack·​e·​teer ˌra-kə-ˈtir How to pronounce racketeer (audio)
: one who obtains money by an illegal enterprise usually involving intimidation

racketeer

2 of 2

verb

racketeered; racketeering; racketeers

intransitive verb

: to carry on a racket

transitive verb

: to extort money from

Examples of racketeer in a Sentence

Noun the racketeer threatened to have his thugs vandalize the shop if the shopkeeper didn't pay him a monthly bribe
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Oh yeah, this relationship with this 38-year-old racketeer is so beautiful. Michael Cuby, Them, 1 Aug. 2024 While President Herbert Hoover had waged a war against kidnappers and racketeers, Roosevelt amplified the effort dramatically, pushed it in new directions, and overcame the jurisdictional, racial, partisan, and class divisions that had previously obstructed the law-and-order state. Anthony Gregory / Made By History, TIME, 23 July 2024
Verb
Williams back in April pleaded guilty to racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations, or RICO, conspiracy. Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 15 Nov. 2024 And Connick learned firsthand about being a defendant: Federal prosecutors charged him in 1990 with racketeering and aiding a sports-betting operation. San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for racketeer 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1924, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1928, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of racketeer was in 1924

Dictionary Entries Near racketeer

Cite this Entry

“Racketeer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racketeer. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

racketeer

noun
rack·​e·​teer
ˌrak-ə-ˈti(ə)r
: one who gets money or advantages by using force or threats
racketeer verb

Legal Definition

racketeer

noun
rack·​e·​teer ˌra-kə-ˈtir How to pronounce racketeer (audio)
: one that engages in racketeering
racketeer verb

More from Merriam-Webster on racketeer

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!