larceny

noun

lar·​ce·​ny ˈlär-sə-nē 

ˈlär-snē

plural larcenies

: the unlawful taking of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it permanently

was arrested and charged with larceny

Synonyms

• robbery
• stealing
• theft
• thievery

Examples of larceny in a Sentence

He was arrested and charged with larceny.

He has been accused of several larcenies.

Recent Examples on the Web

Jeffrey Brian Merrow, a 60-year-old Marion resident, was taken into custody Jan. 5 on charges of embezzlement and larceny, both felonies, McDowell County Sheriff Ricky Buchanan said. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 18 Jan. 2025

Firstly, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would have to detain non-U.S. nationals charged with theft, burglary, shoplifting, or larceny offenses, regardless of their immigration status. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025

She was charged with multiple larceny offenses, police said. —Louis Casiano, Fox News, 26 Dec. 2024

The criminals constantly try to shift and change plans before their window to pull off the larceny closes. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French larecin theft, from Latin latrocinium robbery, from latron-, latro mercenary soldier, probably from Greek *latrōn, from latron pay

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing larceny

• grand larceny
• petit larceny
• petty larceny

Kids Definition

larceny

noun

lar·​ce·​ny ˈlärs-nē 

-ᵊn-ē

plural larcenies

: the unlawful taking of personal property with the intention of depriving the rightful owner of it permanently : theft

larcenous

-nəs

-ᵊn-əs

adjective

Legal Definition

larceny

noun

lar·​ce·​ny ˈlär-sə-nē 

plural larcenies

: the unlawful taking and carrying away of personal property with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it permanently

also : any of several types of theft (as embezzlement or obtaining another's property by false pretenses) that have been traditionally distinguished from larceny

Note: Under the Model Penal Code and in states that follow it, larceny is a type of theft. In states where larceny is currently defined as a separate crime, it may include the crimes that were distinct from it under common law.

— grand larceny

: felonious larceny of property having a value greater than an amount fixed by law

also : larceny accompanied by aggravating circumstances (as the use of threats)

— larceny by trick

: larceny of property obtained by the use of misrepresentation especially in getting an owner to hand over something in the belief that it is for temporary purposes compare false pretenses

— larceny from the person

: larceny of property held by or within the immediate control of its owner

— petit larceny \ ˈpe-​tē-​ \

: larceny of property having a market value below an amount fixed by law

called also petty larceny

Note: Petit larceny is a misdemeanor.

Etymology

modification of Anglo-French larcine theft, from Old French larrecin, from Latin latrocinium robbery, from latron-, latro mercenary soldier, brigand