# heist

/ˈhaɪst/ (US) · /hˈaɪst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/heist
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a robbery

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a crime where people steal a lot of money or valuable items, often from a bank or museum.

For teachers: a major robbery or burglary, especially one that is carefully planned and targets a financial institution or gallery.

- The thieves planned the diamond heist for months before they finally broke into the vault.
- The museum heist resulted in the loss of three priceless Impressionist paintings, leaving investigators with few clues as to how the security system was bypassed.

Usage: Often used as a compound noun, such as 'bank heist' or 'diamond heist'.

### 2. film/fiction genre

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a type of movie or book that focuses on a group of people planning a big robbery.

For teachers: a subgenre of crime fiction or film that focuses on the planning, execution, and aftermath of a major theft.

- Ocean's Eleven is one of the most famous heist movies ever made.
- The director revitalized the heist genre by focusing more on the psychological tension between the criminals than on the technical details of the break-in.

## Examples

- The thieves planned the diamond heist for months.
- Police are investigating a daring midnight heist where several famous paintings were stolen from the national gallery.
- The film follows a group of retired criminals who reunite for one final heist, targeting a secure vault beneath the city's most prestigious casino.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.