robber
gb/ɹˈɑbɚ/ us/ɹˈɑbɚ/
A2
English
~ 8000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
person who commits robbery
A person who steals money or things from people, usually by using force or threats.
Usage pattern:
a robber steals [something] from [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'robber', 'thief', and 'burglar'. A 'robber' usually steals directly from a person or place using force or threats (for example, a bank robber). A 'thief' is a general word for someone who steals, without saying how. A 'burglar' breaks into buildings, often when no one is there. Also, 'robber' is a noun (a robber), while 'rob' is the verb (to rob someone).
Synonyms
thief (More general; does not always suggest force or threats, unlike 'robber'.)
|
mugger (A type of robber who attacks people in public places to steal from them.)
|
burglar (Someone who breaks into buildings to steal, usually when they are empty; not necessarily using direct force on a person.)
Antonyms
victim (The person who has something stolen from them, the opposite role to a robber in a crime.)
|
police officer (A person whose job is to prevent and investigate crimes, including robberies.)
Collocations
armed robber
|bank robber
|masked robber
|serial robber
|robber entered the store
|robber escaped
Themes
crime
|law
|safety
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The masked robber demanded cash from the supermarket cashier.
- Police arrested a bank robber just minutes after the heist.
- The robber threatened the couple with a knife before taking their wallets.
- Security cameras recorded the robber entering through the back door.
- Witnesses said the robber escaped on a motorcycle parked outside the shop.
Learner examples
- The robber took my bag and ran away.
- Two robbers went into the bank with guns.
- The police caught the robber later that night.
- A robber stopped the man on the street and asked for his money.
- The store has cameras to help find a robber.
Grammar
Dictionary form
robber
IPA
GB/ɹˈɑbɚ/
US/ɹˈɑbɚ/
Syllables & stress
rob - ber (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (rob)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: robber
- Plural: robbers
Word family
Expressions
armed robber
1/ˈɑɹmd ɹˈɑbɚ/
fixed phrase
robber carrying a weapon
A robber who has a weapon, such as a gun or knife, when committing the crime.
Examples
- An armed robber entered the store and ordered everyone to lie on the floor.
- Police warn that the armed robber should be considered dangerous.
bank robber
1/bˈæŋk ɹˈɑbɚ/
fixed phrase
person who robs banks
A robber who steals money from a bank.
Examples
- The bank robber was caught as he tried to leave the building.
- Movies often show a bank robber wearing a mask and carrying a bag of money.
masked robber
1/mˈæskt ɹˈɑbɚ/
fixed phrase
robber whose face is covered
A robber who wears something over their face so people cannot see who they are.
Examples
- The masked robber was seen on the security camera entering through the side door.
- Witnesses said the masked robber did not speak during the robbery.
serial robber
1/sˈɪɹiəl ɹˈɑbɚ/
fixed phrase
person who commits many robberies
A robber who commits many robberies, one after another, over a period of time.
Examples
- Detectives believe the same serial robber is responsible for three recent store hold-ups.
- The serial robber targeted small shops late at night.
robber baron
1/ɹˈɑbɚ bˈɛɹən/
idiom
very rich but unfair business leader
A very rich and powerful business person who becomes rich by treating workers, customers, or competitors in a very unfair or dishonest way.
Examples
- History books often describe those industrial leaders as robber barons.
- History books often describe some 19th-century industrialists as robber barons.
- Some critics call modern tech billionaires the new robber barons.
- Critics call him a modern robber baron for how he built his companies.
- The film portrays him as a classic robber baron, crushing his workers to increase profits.