robbery

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "robbery" is correct and perfectly usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the criminal act of stealing something using force or threat of force, usually involving money and/or possessions. For example, "The bank robbery was one of the most daring acts of crime witnessed in the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Public opinion in her home country is sensitive to the disclosures that elsewhere in Europe, the multinationals are getting away with daylight robbery.

The Guardian

Earlier yesterday, two men faced Maidstone magistrates, charged with conspiracy to commit the Tonbridge robbery.

The Guardian

Detectives are working on the theory that Kerr was shot as a result of a botched robbery attempt and that the gang had not intended to murder him.

The Guardian

They discovered, for instance, that he had attended British National Party and National Front rallies and that, in 1992, he was convicted of attempted violent robbery when he attacked an attendant in a Croydon petrol station.

The Guardian - Sport

It was just after midnight soon after Real Madrid had beaten Elche thanks to a ludicrous late penalty and Spain's national police force were overrun with people reporting a robbery, so they responded with a tweet: "We've had over 120 mentions about football in the last 10 minutes.

The Guardian - Sport

Solomon Bygraves, 29, who was on bail at the time of the robbery, was told by a judge that his attack on Stanley Evans could have been fatal.

The Guardian

Bygraves, who has 21 convictions for 49 different offences including two for robbery, was out on bail for a domestic matter at the time of the attack.

The Guardian

Police also found the white lorry they believe was used to drive the cash away and said they had arrested a woman - the fifth person now being questioned about the robbery at the Securitas depot in Tonbridge.

The Guardian

The robbery itself unfolds in layers and layers of scams and fake-outs, passing out myriad red herrings to both victims and viewers, but never cheats our expectations or falls into predictability.

The Guardian

Mr Brown also said he had been in Kilburn the night of the murder and initially claimed that he had nothing to do with either the robbery of the other man or the robbery and murder of Mr ap Rhys Pryce.

The Guardian

But I could expand the other characters, give them more space and time, find reasons, and bring some things, later things, to it – oddly, I thought quite a bit of Reservoir Dogs, another great film where the robbery sits mainly in the back story, and it's all about the personalities afterwards.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "robbery", specify the type of robbery (e.g., armed robbery, bank robbery) to provide more clarity and context.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "robbery" with "burglary" or "theft". "Robbery" always involves the use or threat of force, whereas burglary involves unlawful entry and theft is a general term for taking property without permission.

Linguistic Context

The term "robbery" functions primarily as a noun, denoting the act of stealing property from someone using force or the threat of force. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently appears in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "robbery" is a common noun that refers to the act of stealing something using force or threat of force. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and broad usability in written English. It's frequently found in news and media, as well as in formal and business contexts. When writing about "robbery", specifying the type, such as armed robbery, is recommended. Also, avoid confusing it with similar terms like "burglary" or "theft". In summary, "robbery" is a versatile and frequently used term when describing this kind of crime.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold-up

An armed robbery, typically of a bank or store.

theft

General term for taking someone else's property without permission.

larceny

Formal term for the unlawful taking of personal property.

burglary

Unlawful entry into a building with the intent to commit a crime.

grand theft

Theft of property exceeding a certain value.

petty theft

Theft of property of a lower value.

pilferage

The act of stealing small items or amounts.

highway robbery

An act of blatant overcharging or exploitation, or a robbery committed on a public road.

expropriation

The action by the state or an authority of taking property from its owner for public use or benefit.

defalcation

Misappropriation of money held in trust.

FAQs

How is "robbery" typically used in a sentence?

The word "robbery" is used to describe the act of stealing something using force or threat of force. For example, "The bank "robbery" was caught on camera."

What are some synonyms for "robbery"?

Depending on the context, you can use words like "theft", "larceny", or "burglary" as alternatives to "robbery".

What is the difference between "robbery" and "theft"?

"Robbery" involves the use of force or threat of force in taking property from another person. "Theft", on the other hand, is a broader term that includes taking someone's property without their consent, but doesn't necessarily involve force.

What is the difference between "robbery" and "burglary"?

"Robbery" involves taking something from a person using force or threat of force. "Burglary" is entering a building unlawfully with the intention of committing a crime, usually theft.