robber

robber — noun

1. a person who takes money or property from another person or place by force or th

1.nounB1
Definition

a person who takes money or property from another person or place by force or threats, often in a sudden or open attack

Example

The police caught the robber near the train station.

passive: caught by police after the crime

A robber ran past Nikos and took money from the shop.

typical action sequence: ran + took

Common collocations
  • bank robber
  • armed robber
  • masked robber
  • caught the robber
  • chased the robber
Synonyms
  • thief

    broader term; a thief may steal secretly without using force

  • burglar

    enters a building to steal, usually when occupants are absent or unaware

  • mugger

    attacks someone in a public place to steal from them, usually by force

  • bandit

    historical or rural context; a robber who is part of an armed group

Antonyms
  • victim

    the person who is robbed

Grammar Patterns

a [adjective] robber

robber + of + place

Usage Note

Distinguish from thief (steals secretly, often without direct confrontation) and burglar (breaks into a building, usually when no one is inside). Robber suggests a face-to-face encounter with the victim, often involving threats or a weapon.

Common Mistakes

A robber stole my phone from my bag when I was not looking.
A thief stole my phone from my bag when I was not looking.
'robber' involves force or threats, not just secret stealing.
The robber broke into the house while the family was asleep.
The burglar broke into the house while the family was asleep.
'burglar' is for entering a building; 'robber' often confronts the victim.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Robber, thief, burglar, mugger, and bandit all describe someone who steals, but they differ in method and setting. A thief is the broadest term — it covers anyone who takes what does not belong to them, often secretly. A robber uses force or threats directly against a person, making it the most confrontational of the group. A burglar enters a building illegally to steal, usually when the occupants are away or asleep. A mugger attacks someone in a public place, such as a street or park, and demands money or valuables on the spot. A bandit belongs to an armed group that robs travellers or banks, often in a historical or remote setting. For example: 'A thief took Trang's wallet from her bag on the crowded bus'; 'A robber pointed a gun at Vikram and demanded his phone'; 'A burglar broke into the shop through the back window at midnight'; 'A mugger grabbed Paloma's purse in the park and ran away'; 'The bandits stopped the stagecoach on the mountain road.'

thief ↗burglar ↗muggerbandit

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

GermanicOld FrenchEnglish

Robber comes from the Old French word 'rober', meaning 'to steal', which itself traces back to a Germanic root meaning 'to take away by force'. The word entered English around the 1100s and has kept its core meaning of taking by violence or threat ever since.