American English

How to pronounce robbery

nounB1Common word
RAHberee

/ˈɹɑ.bɚ.i/

3 syllables · Stress the first syllable.

A crime in which someone takes money or property from a person, business, or bank by using force or threatening to use force.

What to listen for

“Robbery” is commonly pronounced /ˈɹɑ.bɚ.i/, but you may also hear /ˈɹɑ.bə.ɹi/.

Common pronunciation/ˈɹɑ.bɚ.i/
Also common/ˈɹɑ.bə.ɹi/
Practice out loud

Meanings & examples

noun

A crime in which someone takes money or property from a person, business, or bank by using force or threatening to use force.

The police are investigating a bank robbery.

A man threatened the cashier during the robbery.

Good to know

Robbery involves force or a threat. Taking something secretly is usually called theft.

Common phrases & grammar

armed robbery · bank robbery · attempted robbery · robbery suspect

a robbery at + place

be charged with robbery

nouninformalless common

An unfairly high price or charge; used to say that something costs far too much.

Charging $40 for parking is robbery.

This tiny room costs $300 a night—that's robbery.

Common phrases & grammar

That is robbery

feel like robbery

Useful expressions

armed robbery

a robbery in which someone uses a weapon

He was arrested for armed robbery.

bank robbery

a robbery in which someone takes money from a bank

The bank robbery happened just before noon.

highway robbery

an unfairly high price or charge; informal

That price for a sandwich is highway robbery.

Related words & forms

Change y to ies: robbery → robberies.