racketeering
rak-uh-TEER-ing
/ˌrækɪˈtɪərɪŋ/
Dishonest and fraudulent business dealings, often involving extortion or illegal schemes.
Specifically refers to a pattern of illegal activity carried out as part of an enterprise, rather than a single crime.
The story behind the word. In the 18th century, a 'racket' was a loud, confusing noise. Pickpockets and tricksters would create a 'racket' in the street to distract their victims. By the 1920s, the term evolved to describe the organized 'rackets' of the Prohibition era, where gangs ran illegal businesses.
Word relationships
- fraud: Fraud is a general term for deception, while racketeering is an organized business of crime.
- legitimacy: The state of being legal and honest.
Commonly confused with
- extortion: Extortion is the act of getting money by force; racketeering is the organized system that uses extortion as a tool.
Word family
- racket (noun): An illegal scheme for making money.
- racketeer (noun): A person who engages in racketeering.
Collocations
- racketeering charges
- organized racketeering
- racketeering enterprise
- convicted of racketeering
Idioms & expressions
- protection racket
Example sentences
- "The defendants were charged with racketeering under the RICO Act for their roles in the gambling ring." A legal report on a major investigation.
- "Racketeering often involves creating a problem and then offering a paid solution to fix it." Describing the nature of the crime.
Memory hook
Imagine a criminal making a loud 'racket' with a tennis 'racket' to distract you while they steal your wallet. Racketeering is the business of making a 'racket' to hide a crime.
When not to use
Do not use for simple theft or a one-time fraud; it requires an organized, ongoing 'racket'.
Fun facts
- The RICO Act (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) was passed in the US in 1970 to specifically target the Mafia.
- The word 'racket' for a tennis implement has a completely different origin (Arabic 'rahat').
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