larceny
4 synonyms for larceny, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The crime of unlawfully taking someone else's property with the intent to keep it permanently.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use larceny
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
grand larceny
petty larceny
charged with larceny
Mainly used in legal and news contexts rather than everyday speech, where "theft" or "stealing" is more common.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman larcin ("theft"), ultimately from Latin latro, "robber" or "mercenary."
Full origin of larceny →Frequently asked questions
What does “larceny” mean?
The word “larceny” means the crime of unlawfully taking someone else's property with the intent to keep it permanently. In plain terms, a legal term for theft — taking someone's property without permission and meaning to keep it.
How do you pronounce “larceny”?
“Larceny” is pronounced LAH-suhn-ee (/ˈlɑɹ.sə.ni/ in IPA).
How do you use “larceny” in a sentence?
Here is “larceny” used in a sentence: “He was charged with grand larceny after stealing the car.”
What part of speech is “larceny”?
“Larceny” is a noun.
Where does the word “larceny” come from?
The word “larceny” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman larcin ("theft"), ultimately from Latin latro, "robber" or "mercenary.".
