loot

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "loot" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to goods or money that has been stolen or illegally obtained, as in the phrase "The gang ran away with the store's loot."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

4. It turns out that, if I want to loot everything, I do need safecracking and lockpicking.

The Guardian - Tech

The last thing we need now is to find a few more liquor stores to loot".

The Guardian

You destroy hope, making young men more susceptible to recruitment by an organisation promising loot and status.

The Guardian - Opinion

Everett (George Clooney) is self-elected leader of three chain-gang escapees who set out to retrieve the $1.2m bank heist loot he claims to have buried.

The Guardian

The story's pretty much the same, of course – criminals posing as musicians in a little old lady's guesthouse, as they plot a bank job; little old lady finds the loot; duplicity and betrayals and deaths ensue, just not in the way you'd think.

The Guardian

It also neatly tied together all of the conventions of quest-based multiplayer role-playing games: players took on a specific class of character – fighter, wizard, thief, etc – then "leveled up" by killing enemies with a range of weapons and spells, before collecting experience points and loot.

The Guardian - Tech

Once, a lack of online presence marked your company out as a backwater outfit that probably still advertised using Loot; these days, with social media controlling the flow of information around the net, web pages look like yesterday's news.

The Guardian - Film

When he learned of Duchamp's death, he said, after a long pause, "He was wrong!", while proclaiming of contemporary artists, "They loot Duchamp's store and change the wrapping".

The Guardian - Arts

Others served as porters, carrying the loot stolen by the insurgents from villages and towns they had attacked".

The Guardian

"When individuals get crowbars and start prying open doors to loot, they're not protesting," Obama said.

The Guardian

The market worries the company will go under.But though the private-equity people may have walked off with the loot, America's tax code was partly to blame, because it encourages this behaviour.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing video games, use "loot" to refer to items dropped by enemies or found in chests, distinguishing it from general stolen goods.

Common error

Avoid using "loot" in formal contexts where a more neutral term like "assets" or "goods" would be more appropriate, as "loot" typically implies illegal acquisition.

Linguistic Context

The word "loot" functions primarily as a noun referring to stolen goods or spoils acquired, often during wartime, riots, or looting activities. It can also function as a verb meaning to steal or plunder. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "loot" is a versatile term primarily used as a noun to describe stolen goods or as a verb to describe the act of stealing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Common contexts include news reports, business discussions, and scientific analyses, though the specific connotation can vary from neutral description to condemnation of illegal activities. For more formal writing, consider using alternatives like "assets" or "goods" unless the context explicitly involves theft. Remember to check the connotations before choosing a replacement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

plunder

Refers to the forceful taking of goods, often in a time of war or conflict.

pillage

The act of looting or plundering, especially during wartime.

booty

Specifically refers to stolen goods, especially valuable ones, taken during wartime.

spoils

Implies goods taken from a defeated enemy or competitor.

stolen goods

A more general term for items that have been illegally taken.

ill-gotten gains

Emphasizes the unlawful or unethical manner in which the items were acquired.

haul

Denotes a significant quantity of items acquired, often implying theft or illegal activity.

swag

A more informal term for stolen goods, often associated with burglary.

contraband

Goods that are illegal to possess or transport.

prize

Items taken or received especially during Christmas.

FAQs

How can I use "loot" in a sentence?

You can use "loot" to describe stolen goods, as in "The thieves escaped with their "loot"" or to describe the act of stealing during unrest, as in "Rioters began to "loot" shops".

What are some synonyms for "loot"?

Alternatives to "loot" include "plunder", "booty", "spoils", and "swag", each carrying slightly different connotations depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "loot" in formal writing?

While "loot" is widely understood, it often carries a negative connotation related to theft or violence. In formal writing, consider using more neutral terms like "assets" or "goods" unless the context specifically involves illegal acquisition.

What's the difference between "loot" and "plunder"?

"Loot" and "plunder" are often used interchangeably, but "plunder" often implies a more systematic and extensive act of stealing, especially during wartime or a large-scale disturbance, while "loot" can refer to individual items or a smaller scale theft.