Word
racketeering
Phoneticsrack·e·teer·ing, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɹækɪˈtɪɹɪŋ/
UK/ɹˌækɪtˈiəɹɪŋ/
Definition
n. the illegal activity of running a business that involves crime, such as selling drugs or stealing money. It usually involves a group of people working together over a long time.
n. the illegal operation of a business or enterprise, typically involving organized crime or fraud. Often refers to the systematic use of criminal activity to generate profit.
Examples
“The police arrested several people for racketeering.”
“The investigation revealed a complex racketeering operation that had been operating for over a decade.”
“Legal scholars often distinguish between simple fraud and racketeering, as the latter involves a pattern of illegal activity that suggests a more organized and persistent criminal enterprise.”
Examples
simple
“The police arrested several people for racketeering.”
contextual
“The investigation revealed a complex racketeering operation that had been operating for over a decade.”
complex
“Legal scholars often distinguish between simple fraud and racketeering, as the latter involves a pattern of illegal activity that suggests a more organized and persistent criminal enterprise.”
Real-World Examples
“Although Banks was found not guilty of the charges in the case, he remains in custody and faces a separate trial on 5 October, where he will face racketeering murder and firearms charges.” “A Singaporean man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a racketeering conspiracy charge in the US for organising one of the biggest ever cryptocurrency thefts.” Etymology
Coined by the Employers' Association of Chicago in June 1927 in a statement about the influence of organized crime in the Teamsters union.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- 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
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/racketeering