robberyrob‧ber‧y /ˈrɒbəri $ ˈrɑː-/ ●●○ noun (plural robberies) [countable, uncountable] 
Police are investigating a series of bank robberies in South Wales. He received a 10 year prison sentence for armed robbery (=robbery using a gun). He admitted attempted robbery and was given a suspended sentence.► see thesaurus at crime → daylight robbery at daylight(5), → highway robbery at highway(3)THESAURUSrobbery the crime of stealing money or other things from a bank, shop etc, especially by using threats or violence: · Mobile phones are a common target in street robberies.· Armed robbery is a serious offence.theft the crime of stealing something, especially when the person they are stolen from is not present: · Car thefts are on the increase.· Security has been tightened since the theft of a $150,000 oil painting.burglary the crime of entering a house or other building illegally and stealing things: · Most burglaries occur when a house or apartment is empty.· He was charged with burglary.break-in an occasion when someone breaks a door or window in order to enter a place and steal things: · The break-in was the eighth on our street this year.· There’s been a break-in at the newsagents.mugging a violent attack on someone in the street in order to rob them: · There have been a number of muggings outside downtown hotels.raid an attack on a bank, shop etc, especially one in which the thieves use weapons: · The gang carried out an armed raid on a post office.bank job informal a carefully planned robbery of a bank: · The money from the bank job was quickly taken out of the country.larceny law the crime of stealing something from someone, without using force or threats. This word is used mainly in American English. It is now old-fashioned in British English: · He pleaded guilty in New York to nine counts of grand larceny (=stealing things that are worth a lot of money).· They were suspected of being involved in petty larceny (=stealing things that are not worth a lot of money).
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Robbery was believed to be the motive for the killing.
- He made two escape attempts while serving a sentence for armed robbery.
- I took part in my first robbery when I was only thirteen years old.
- In the first nine months of this year there were 9611 street robberies involving violence.
- Many travelers have been the victims of robberies on this road.
- Perkins was given five years in prison for robbery with violence.
- Police claim to have found the gun used in this morning's robbery of a downtown convenience store.
- The police are investigating a series of bank robberies.
- A police officer was killed during the robbery.
- Could be one those females we never did catch up with, identify, on the early robberies.
- Dines is already serving thirty months at a young offenders' institution for robbery.
- His car had been damaged at least six times and he'd moved his double glazing factory because of three attempted robberies.
- In an agreement with prosecutors, she pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter and two counts of armed robbery.
- One major bank robbery had just come to trial.
- The judge admitted the notes of interview and Francis was convicted of substantive offences of robbery.
- The rates of rape, armed robbery, etc would probably not fall very much.
THESAURUS
the crime of stealing money or other things from a bank, shop etc, especially by using threats or violence: · Mobile phones are a common target in street robberies.· Armed robbery is a serious offence.
the crime of stealing something, especially when the person they are stolen from is not present: · Car thefts are on the increase.· Security has been tightened since the theft of a $150,000 oil painting.
the crime of entering a house or other building illegally and stealing things: · Most burglaries occur when a house or apartment is empty.· He was charged with burglary.
an occasion when someone breaks a door or window in order to enter a place and steal things: · The break-in was the eighth on our street this year.· There’s been a break-in at the newsagents.
a violent attack on someone in the street in order to rob them: · There have been a number of muggings outside downtown hotels.
an attack on a bank, shop etc, especially one in which the thieves use weapons: · The gang carried out an armed raid on a post office.
informal a carefully planned robbery of a bank: · The money from the bank job was quickly taken out of the country.
law the crime of stealing something from someone, without using force or threats. This word is used mainly in American English. It is now old-fashioned in British English: · He pleaded guilty in New York to nine counts of grand larceny (=stealing things that are worth a lot of money).· They were suspected of being involved in petty larceny (=stealing things that are not worth a lot of money).
Longman Language Activatorwhen something is too expensive if you can't afford something, you do not have enough money to buy it or pay for it: · I really need a new coat, but I can't afford one.can't afford to do something: · We couldn't afford to go on holiday last year.can't afford it: · Hiring a lawyer would be expensive, and she just couldn't afford it.
prices, charges, rents etc that are exorbitant or extortionate , are very much higher than they should be, and you think they are unfair: · The restaurant charges exorbitant prices for very ordinary food.· Interest rates for some of the credit cards are extortionate.
spoken informal you say something is a rip-off when you think someone is unfairly charging too much money for it: · Eighty dollars for a pair of jeans? What a rip-off!a complete/total rip-off: · The vacation package we bought ended up being a total rip-off.
prices or costs that are prohibitive or prohibitively expensive are so high that people cannot pay them or decide not to pay them because they are too expensive: · For most people, the cost of living in the centre of town is prohibitive.· The computer was superior to other models, but it was prohibitively expensive.
prices that are much higher than usual and much higher than they should be, so that the person who charges them can make a big profit: · Nightclubs often charge inflated prices for drinks.at inflated prices: · Some people buy large blocks of tickets and then try to sell them at vastly inflated prices.
informal prices, charges, rents etc that are steep seem unusually or surprisingly high: · I think £7 for a drink is a bit steep, don't you?· It's hard to find an apartment around here, and when you do the rents are pretty steep.
British /be highway robbery American informal if you say that a price or charge is daylight robbery or highway robbery you mean it is very much higher than it should be: · I'm not paying £5 for an ice-cream - that's daylight robbery!· We knew it was highway robbery, but we had no choice but to pay.
to make something so expensive that people will no longer buy it because they can buy something similar at a lower price: be priced out of the market: · British electrical equipment is likely to be priced out of the market by cheap imports.price yourself out of the market: · Ford don't want to raise its prices any more - it's worried about pricing itself out of the market.
when someone steals something when someone enters a house or other building illegally and steals things: · Call the police -- there's been a burglary.· Most burglaries occur when a house or apartment is empty.
when someone steals money or other things from a bank, shop etc, especially by using threats or violence: · I took part in my first robbery when I was only thirteen years old.· In the first nine months of this year there were 9611 street robberies involving violence.robbery of: · Police claim to have found the gun used in this morning's robbery of a downtown convenience store.bank robbery: · The police are investigating a series of bank robberies.
when someone breaks a door or window in order to enter a place and steal things: · There was a break-in at the college last night -- they took all the computers.
also stick-up American informal when someone goes into a bank or shop with a gun and demands money: · A man was shot dead in a hold-up at a downtown bank.
formal when something is stolen: · If your passport has been stolen, report the theft to your nearest embassy immediately.theft of: · Security has been tightened since the theft of a $150,000 oil painting.car/bicycle etc thefts: · Police believe they have found the man responsible for a series of car thefts in the past year.
a violent attack on someone in the street in order to rob them: · There have been a number of muggings outside downtown hotels recently.
when someone goes into a bank or shop while it is open, and steals money or other things using threats or violence: · The police accused the woman of planning a huge armed bank raid in Scotland.raid on: · Detectives managed to catch the gunman who had taken three hostages in a raid on a jeweller's shop.carry out a raid: · Police have released a photo of a man they believe carried out a raid on a supermarket.
informal a crime that involves stealing: · Her boyfriend was put in prison after a bank job (=theft from a bank).inside job (=done by someone within the organization): · The police are convinced it was an inside job.
the crime of stealing · This warehouse is not adequately protected against theft or vandalism.· The mayor is taking credit for decreases in theft since he took office.car/luggage/bicycle etc theft · The rate of bicycle theft in this area is very high.
the crime of stealing money or other things from a bank, shop etc, especially by using threats or violence: · Perkins was given five years in prison for robbery with violence.· Robbery was believed to be the motive for the killing.armed robbery (=when robbers carry weapons): · He made two escape attempts while serving a sentence for armed robbery.
the crime of illegally entering a house, office etc and stealing things: · Foster had been in prison twice already for burglary.· Burglary, murder and rape are all on the increase.· If you live in an area where burglary is common, it may be worth investing in an alarm system.
the crime of taking things from shops without paying for them: · Shoplifting cost the major stores millions of dollars last year.
the crime of stealing money from the place where you work, especially over a long period of time: · Taylor left the country to escape charges of embezzlement.embezzlement of: · The judge sentenced Walker to five years in prison for embezzlement of state funds.
the crime of stealing a car and driving it very fast for fun: · Anyone found guilty of joyriding can now be sentenced for up to five years in prison.
the crime of stealing -- used especially in the American legal system: · Brook now faces probable jail after an indictment for larceny and income tax evasion.
WORD SETSabet, verbaccusation, nounaccuse, verbaffray, nounarson, nounassault, nounassault and battery, nounbackhander, nounbattery, nounbigamy, nounblack market, nounblack marketeer, nounbreak-in, nounbreaking and entering, nouncaper, nouncapital, adjectivecarjacking, nouncat burglar, nouncontract, nouncosh, nouncounterfeit, adjectivecounterfeit, verbcover, nouncrack, verbcriminal, adjectivecriminal, nouncriminal law, nouncriminal record, nouncriminology, nouncrook, nounculpable, adjectiveculprit, noundefamation, noundefraud, verbdelinquency, noundelinquent, adjectivedelinquent, noundesperado, noundisorderly, adjectivedrug baron, noundrug runner, nounDUI, nounembezzle, verbexpropriate, verbextort, verbeyewitness, nounfelon, nounfelony, nounfence, nounfiddle, nounfiddle, verbfiddler, nounfilch, verbfinger, verbfire-raising, nounfirst offender, nounflash, verbflasher, nounforge, verbforger, nounforgery, nounfoul play, nounframe, verbframe-up, nounfratricide, nounfraud, nounfreebooter, noungang, noungang-bang, noungang rape, noungangster, nounGBH, noungenocide, noungetaway, noungodfather, noungrand larceny, noungrass, noungrievous bodily harm, nounheist, nounhijack, verbhijack, nounhijacking, nounhit, nounhit-and-run, adjectivehit man, nounincriminate, verbindecent assault, nounindecent exposure, nouninfanticide, nounjob, nounjoyriding, nounjuvenile delinquent, nounkidnap, verblarceny, nounlibel, nounlibel, verblibellous, adjectivelow life, nounmafioso, nounmalpractice, nounmanslaughter, nounmassacre, nounmassacre, verbmatricide, nounmisappropriate, verbmisconduct, nounmisdeed, nounmisdemeanour, nounmobster, nounmoll, nounmug, verbmugshot, nounmurder, nounmurder, verbmurderer, nounmurderess, nounmuscleman, nounnark, nounnefarious, adjectiveneighbourhood watch, nounnick, verbno-go area, nounoffence, nounoffend, verboffender, nounold lag, nounorganized crime, nounoutlaw, nounparricide, nounpatricide, nounpetty larceny, nounPhotofit, nounpiracy, nounplant, verbpoach, verbpoacher, nounpossession, nounprivateer, nounprotection, nounprowl, verbprowler, nounpublic nuisance, nounpull, verbpunk, nounpurloin, verbraid, nounram-raiding, nounrape, verbrape, nounrapist, nounravish, verbreceiver, nounreceiving, nounrecidivist, nounregicide, nounring, nounringleader, nounriotous, adjectiverob, verbrobber, nounrobbery, nounroll, verbrustler, nounscheme, nounscheme, verbshady, adjectiveshoplift, verbshoplifting, nounslander, nounsmuggle, verbsnout, nounspeeding, nounstabbing, nounstalking, nounstatutory offence, nounstatutory rape, nounsteal, verbstoolpigeon, nounsupergrass, nounsuspect, nounswag, nountheft, nounthief, nounthievish, adjectivetorch, verbtraffic, nountrafficker, nountriad, noununder-the-counter, adjectiveunderworld, nounundesirable, nounvagrancy, nounvandal, nounvandalism, nounvandalize, verbvice, nounvigilante, nounvillainy, nounviolate, verbviolation, nounwanted, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Police are investigating a series of bank robberies in South Wales. He received a 10 year prison sentence for armed robbery (=robbery using a gun). He admitted attempted robbery and was given a suspended sentence.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES She got ten years in prison for armed robbery (=stealing using a gun). The kid’s been cited twice on drunk-driving raps.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
Police are investigating a series of bank robberies in South Wales. He received a 10 year prison sentence for armed robbery (=robbery using a gun). He admitted attempted robbery and was given a suspended sentence. She got ten years in prison for armed robbery (=stealing using a gun).· The bank robbers were never caught.
· She later admitted committing the robbery.
The kid’s been cited twice on drunk-driving raps.· The amnesty did not include those accused of offences relating to drugs, murder, economic sabotage or armed robbery.· He says he was captured by armed police and was probably planning an armed robbery.· The rates of rape, armed robbery, etc would probably not fall very much.· Last summer he was placed under a supervision order after being found guilty of burglary, armed robbery and car theft.· Detectives are linking it with a series of recent armed robberies, and warn the men could inflict serious injury.· The defendants faced charges arising from three murders, three armed assaults and 32 armed robberies committed between 1980 and 1986.· Two men are accused of murdering the informer to stop him giving evidence at an armed robbery trial.· The defendant argued that any liability which he had, extended only from his breach of duty until the armed robbery.
· He was found guilty of murder and attempted murder and admitted two robberies and one attempted robbery.· Facts: pleaded guilty to two offences of robbery, one of attempted robbery and two of assault with intent to rob.· His car had been damaged at least six times and he'd moved his double glazing factory because of three attempted robberies.· Joseph, of Bow, east London, was given probation at the Old Bailey yesterday for attempted robbery.· He also admitted two other robberies and one attempted robbery.· Facts: convicted of attempted robbery: pleaded guilty to two further offences of robbery and one of indecent assault.· He admitted eight robberies between May and July and asked for two others and six attempted robberies to be taken into consideration.
· They conclude that the defendant was probably guilty of robbery.· James Duncan Fleming was tried twice; at his second trial he was found not guilty of attempted robbery and felony murder.· Corry also pleaded guilty to robbery and having a gun.· Facts: pleaded guilty to robbery, having a firearm with intent and driving while disqualified.· If the jury were to consider the handling account first they would reach the conclusion that he was guilty of the robbery.· He was held not guilty of robbery because the threats were not made in order to take the money.· Facts: pleaded guilty to robbery.
NOUN· All of us will shudder with our colleagues on the receiving end of a nasty robbery attempt.· An robbery attempt occurred at gunpoint.· Gregory, 20, denies murdering Marion Rilka, 51, by slitting her throat in a robbery attempt at her home.· Investigators have yet to establish a motive, but a failed robbery attempt is a likely reason, Moen said.
· One major bank robbery had just come to trial.· In 1979, President Carter commuted her seven-year sentence for bank robbery and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.· He lent the group's activists a flat, and laundered the proceeds of their bank robberies.· Stedeford, 27, was convicted in November of a bank robbery charge in Iowa and will be sentenced next month.· Three people have been arrested after Britain's first alleged attempted online bank robbery was thwarted.· Since then, both men have been sentenced to long prison terms for attempted bank robbery in Los Angeles.· The jury earlier acquitted the three of two bank robberies in London, in which the families of managers were also terrorised.· Williams had received the George Medal for saving three young children who were taken hostage during a bank robbery.
· Mind, you wouldn't believe some of the prices they charge up West, talk about daylight robbery.
· At the end highway robberies, riots and an unspecified sense of comeuppance is what we are left with.· The constable left in charge of Burford was reluctant to take any action, even when Seb reported the highway robbery at Swinbrook.· This brother-in-law was eventually hanged for highway robbery.· A matter of murder-more than one murder, highway robbery and probably the rape of a young girl too.· She says it's highway robbery.
· It would also appear, particularly in relation to street robberies, that the law was rarely prosecuted with its full vigour.
VERB· In 1929, aged 19, he was sent to the Ohio State Penitentiary for armed robbery.· The charges include armed robbery, distribution of stolen property, illegal gun sales and use, and drug trafficking.· He will move to a women's prison for the final two years of his sentence for armed robbery in 1992.· Before that he spent seven years in the Ohio State Penitentiary for armed robbery.· In an agreement with prosecutors, she pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter and two counts of armed robbery.
· Judge Hart said Munn confessed all when interviewed by police but no-one else had been charged with the robbery.· The three, who have not been named, have been charged with robbery and firearms offences.
· They had their own ideas about who committed all the robberies in the area, and Oliver was unknown to them.· Dixon later admitted committing the robbery, investigators said.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
the crime of stealing money or things from a bank, shop etc, especially using violence: - Mind, you wouldn't believe some of the prices they charge up West, talk about daylight robbery.
- Sixty dollars for a textbook? That's highway robbery.
- A matter of murder-more than one murder, highway robbery and probably the rape of a young girl too.
- At the end highway robberies, riots and an unspecified sense of comeuppance is what we are left with.
- She says it's highway robbery.
- The constable left in charge of Burford was reluctant to take any action, even when Seb reported the highway robbery at Swinbrook.
- This brother-in-law was eventually hanged for highway robbery.
Police are investigating a series of bank robberies in South Wales. He received a 10 year prison sentence for armed robbery (=robbery using a gun). He admitted attempted robbery and was given a suspended sentence.► see thesaurus at crime → daylight robbery at daylight(5), → highway robbery at highway(3)THESAURUSrobbery the crime of stealing money or other things from a bank, shop etc, especially by using threats or violence: · Mobile phones are a common target in street robberies.· Armed robbery is a serious offence.theft the crime of stealing something, especially when the person they are stolen from is not present: · Car thefts are on the increase.· Security has been tightened since the theft of a $150,000 oil painting.burglary the crime of entering a house or other building illegally and stealing things: · Most burglaries occur when a house or apartment is empty.· He was charged with burglary.break-in an occasion when someone breaks a door or window in order to enter a place and steal things: · The break-in was the eighth on our street this year.· There’s been a break-in at the newsagents.mugging a violent attack on someone in the street in order to rob them: · There have been a number of muggings outside downtown hotels.raid an attack on a bank, shop etc, especially one in which the thieves use weapons: · The gang carried out an armed raid on a post office.bank job informal a carefully planned robbery of a bank: · The money from the bank job was quickly taken out of the country.larceny law the crime of stealing something from someone, without using force or threats. This word is used mainly in American English. It is now old-fashioned in British English: · He pleaded guilty in New York to nine counts of grand larceny (=stealing things that are worth a lot of money).· They were suspected of being involved in petty larceny (=stealing things that are not worth a lot of money).