# robbery

/ˈɹɑbɝi/ (US) · /ɹˈɒbəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/robbery
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the crime of stealing by force

noun · CEFR B1

the act of stealing something from a person or a building while using violence or threats.

For teachers: the criminal act of taking property from another person through the use of force, violence, or the threat of harm.

- The police are looking for two men following a bank robbery yesterday morning.
- The prosecution argued that the presence of a weapon elevated the charge from simple theft to armed robbery, regardless of whether the defendant intended to use it.

### 2. unfairly high price

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Humorous

a situation where you think something is much too expensive.

For teachers: an informal figurative extension describing a transaction perceived as being excessively or unfairly expensive.

- Ten dollars for a small bottle of water? That is daylight robbery.
- Charging such exorbitant interest rates on short-term loans is nothing short of legalised robbery, targeting those who can least afford it.

## Examples

- 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.

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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.