robbery

noun

rob·​bery ˈrä-b(ə-)rē 

plural robberies

: the act or practice of robbing

specifically : larceny from the person or presence of another by violence or threat

Synonyms of robbery

• stealing
• theft

Examples of robbery in a Sentence

a series of armed robberies

They foiled a bank robbery.

He is charged with attempted robbery.

She was arrested for robbery.

Recent Examples on the Web

Officers said a security guard found the victim, a man in his 50s, tied up with duct tape in his car after the robbery. —Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026

No one was injured in the robberies. —Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2026

Two people were arrested overnight after a conceal carry license holder wounded one of them during an attempt robbery overnight in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood, Chicago police said. —Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026

Lesage, like some replicas of the sapphire parure from Queen Marie-Amélie of France, whose parts were stolen in the dramatic robbery last October. —Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing robbery

• armed robbery
• highway robbery

Rhymes for robbery

• jobbery
• snobbery

Kids Definition

robbery

noun

rob·​bery ˈräb-(ə-)rē 

plural robberies

: the act, practice, or an instance of robbing

Legal Definition

robbery

noun

rob·​bery

plural robberies

: the unlawful taking away of personal property from a person by violence or by threat of violence that causes fear : larceny from the person or immediate presence of another by violence or threat of violence and with intent to steal

— aggravated robbery

: robbery committed with aggravating factors (as use of a weapon, infliction of bodily injury, or use of an accomplice)

— armed robbery

: robbery committed by a person armed with a dangerous or deadly weapon

— simple robbery

: robbery that does not involve any aggravating factors

Etymology

Anglo-French robberie, roberie, from Old French, from rober to take something away from a person by force