robbery
n. C / Un. the crime of stealing money or property from a person or place by using force or threats. You use this word when someone is hurt or scared during the theft.
n. the action of taking property unlawfully from a person or place by force or threat of force. Often distinguished from theft or burglary by the presence of violence or intimidation.
The police are investigating a bank robbery.
The store owner installed new security cameras after a robbery occurred late last Tuesday night.
While the legal definition of robbery requires the use of force, the psychological impact on the victims often outweighs the actual monetary value of the stolen goods.
From Middle English robberie, robry, roberie, from Old French roberie, from the verb rober (“to steal; to pillage”) + -ie. Ultimately from unattested Frankish *raubōn. By surface analysis, rob + -ery. Compare Dutch roverij (“robbery”), Norwegian Bokmål røveri (“robbery”), German Räuberei (“robbery, banditry”). Displaced native Old English rēaflāc.
Countable when referring to specific incidents; uncountable when referring to the general category of crime.
The robbery of my house happened while I was at work.The burglary of my house happened while I was at work.Learners often use 'robbery' for any theft; however, 'robbery' involves force against a person, while 'burglary' involves entering a building to steal.