Word
larceny
Phoneticslar·ce·ny, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫɑɹsəni/
UK/lˈɑːsəni/
Definition
n. the crime of stealing something. It is a more formal and slightly old-fashioned word for a theft.
n. the act of stealing; the crime of larceny. Often used in legal or literary contexts to distinguish a specific type of theft from more general crimes.
Examples
“The thief was caught for the larceny of a rare painting.”
“The legal team argued that the defendant's actions constituted larceny rather than a more serious form of burglary.”
“While modern legal systems often use the term 'theft' for most property crimes, the term larceny remains a specific legal classification for the unlawful taking of property without the use of force or violence.”
Examples
simple
“The thief was caught for the larceny of a rare painting.”
contextual
“The legal team argued that the defendant's actions constituted larceny rather than a more serious form of burglary.”
complex
“While modern legal systems often use the term 'theft' for most property crimes, the term larceny remains a specific legal classification for the unlawful taking of property without the use of force or violence.”
Real-World Examples
“No significant effects were observed on larceny, motor vehicle theft or arson.” “Most of the cases involved plane crashes and unruly passengers, rental car thefts, larceny of luggage and freight packages, bomb scares and drug smuggling.” Etymology
Coined in Middle English (as larceni) between 1425 and 1475 from Anglo-Norman larcin (“theft”), from Latin latrocinium (“robbery”), from latro (“robber, mercenary”), from Ancient Greek λάτρον (látron, “pay, hire”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/larceny