Larceny
/ˈlɑːrsəni/
nounC2
Definition
Larceny means taking something that belongs to another person without their permission, with the intention to keep it. It is a formal word often used in law to describe theft. Larceny usually involves physical property like money, goods, or belongings.
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See It in Action
Legal term for theft of personal property
- •He was arrested for larceny after taking the neighbor’s bicycle.
- •The court found her guilty of larceny and fined her.
- •Larceny charges can be serious depending on the value of stolen items.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "larceny" like "steal" (A1 word), but it is the formal, legal word used in courts and police reports.
- ✓Picture someone secretly taking a wallet or a phone from another person’s bag.
- ✓It feels like a serious problem because it breaks trust and the law.
- ✓Sounds like "LARS-uh-nee" → imagine a person named Lars sneaking away with something not theirs.
- ✓In stories or movies, larceny is the crime that detectives try to solve.
- ✓NOT like "borrowing" (permission given), larceny is taking without asking.
- ✓NOT like "shoplifting" (a type of larceny but smaller, often in stores), larceny can be bigger thefts too.
- ✓NOT like "robbery" (which uses force or threat), larceny is stealing quietly without violence.
Try Other Words
- •Theft: taking something without permission (Use in general or legal contexts, similar to larceny but more common)
- •Stealing: informal word for taking without permission (Use in everyday speech)
- •Robbery: taking by force or threat (Use when violence or threat is involved)
- •Burglary: illegal entry to steal (Use when breaking into a building to steal)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: none clearly divided; whole word from older language
- •Etymology: From Latin "latrocinium" meaning robbery or banditry, through Old French "larcin" meaning theft
- •Historical development: Entered English in the 14th century as a legal term for theft
- •Modern usage: Used mainly in legal and formal contexts to mean theft of personal property without force
Reflect & Connect
•How does knowing the word "larceny" help you understand legal news or police reports better?
•Can you think of situations where using "larceny" instead of "steal" changes how serious the crime sounds?
Fill in the blanks
1.The police arrested him for larceny because he took the car ___ the owner’s knowledge.
2.Larceny is different from robbery because it does not involve ___ or threats.
3.When someone commits larceny, they usually want to ___ the item permanently.
4.The court treats larceny as a ___ crime that can lead to fines or jail.
5.If a person borrows something and returns it, that is not larceny because there is ___ permission.
6.Larceny charges depend on the ___ of the stolen property.
7.People often confuse larceny with burglary, but burglary means entering a place ___ to steal.