What does ladron mean?
A ladron is a thief or robber, particularly one who steals secretly or by force. In contemporary English it is a rare, somewhat literary word, so a speaker would normally use “thief,” “robber,” or “bandit” according to the circumstances. The term can sound old-fashioned or evoke stories of brigands, outlaws, and border raiders, and it is often deliberately evocative in historical fiction. Although it ultimately comes through Spanish, ladron is an English word and may be encountered in accounts of warfare, travel, and criminal activity involving Spanish-speaking communities. Its unusual form also preserves a useful trace of a common Latin source: the Latin noun latron meant “thief” and gave rise to related words concerning theft. Thus, ladron is worth knowing not only for its meaning but also as a reminder of how vocabulary develops as words travel between languages.
nounA thief or robber, especially one who takes property by force or stealth.
- A thief or robber.
"The fleeing ladron was captured near the border."
"The accused was described by the court as a calculating ladron."
"The novel portrays a solitary ladron operating along the coast."
The regular plural is used when referring to more than one thief or robber.
"The novel follows two ladrons who target isolated estates."
Ladron preserves a word for “thief” that traveled from Latin into Spanish and then into English.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ladron come from?
The English word comes from Spanish ladrón, meaning “thief,” ultimately derived from Latin latron, “robber” or “thief.” The form entered English in the late 16th century. Its Latin ancestry also connects it with cognates such as latron and latrociny, although ladron is now a rare English term rather than a common everyday synonym for thief.
How ladron is actually used
This is a rare, literary or historical word rather than the usual modern English term for a thief. It is especially associated with Spanish-influenced writing and may sound deliberately archaic or colorful.