larceny
LAHR-suh-nee
/ˈlɑːrsəni/
The unlawful taking and carrying away of personal property with intent to deprive the owner permanently.
Implies theft without force or unlawful entry, distinguishing it from robbery and burglary.
The story behind the word. Traces from Latin 'latro' (mercenary or robber), through Old French 'larcin', entering English as a formal legal charge for theft.
Word relationships
- theft: Theft is a general term; larceny is the specific common-law statutory charge.
Commonly confused with
- embezzlement: Larceny involves taking property without initial authorization, whereas embezzlement involves misusing entrusted property.
Word family
- larcenous (adjective): Thieving or intending to commit theft.
Collocations
- grand larceny
- petty larceny
- commit larceny
- larceny by trick
Example sentences
- "He was arrested for grand larceny after stealing a collection of rare art prints from the gallery." Legal indictment
Memory hook
LARCENY sounds like LARCEN-ist grabbing a LARC-arge stash of cash. Taking property without consent.
When not to use
Do not use if the property was stolen by breaking into a home (burglary) or by threatening a person (robbery).
Fun facts
- The boundary between petty and grand larceny varies widely by region, often determined by a specific dollar amount.
Related words
Explore more words
embezzlement, fraud, borrow, identity theft, defraud, seizure
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