What does mugged mean?
Mugged is the past tense and past participle of the verb mug, meaning to rob someone, often with violence or intimidation, especially in a public place. It can also describe being attacked or beaten. The word is especially associated with street crime: a person may be mugged for a wallet, phone, jewelry, or cash, and reports of being mugged commonly appear in journalism and everyday conversation. Because it conveys both physical threat and the loss of property, mugged is more intense and specific than simply robbed. The related noun mugger describes an attacker or robber, while mugging refers to the act itself. Although the term occurs in both British and American English, it is not used for every theft; it usually implies a direct, coercive encounter rather than an unattended or opportunistic theft.
To rob someone, especially by threatening them or using violence; informally, to attack or beat someone severely.
"Two men mugged the driver and fled with the vehicle."
Usually transitive and used in the past tense or past participle: got mugged, was mugged, or mugged someone.
Robbed or attacked in a public place, especially by someone using force or threats.
"The mugged passenger received medical attention after the incident."
This is generally the past participle used adjectivally, as in “a mugged tourist.”
The word “mugged” captures the sudden shock of being attacked and robbed in a public place, an experience it has named since the early 19th century.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mugged come from?
The verb mug is recorded in English by the early 19th century, initially meaning to attack or rob someone in the street. The word may have developed from a dialectal term associated with mugging or mugging people, though its precise origin is uncertain. The related forms mugger, mugging, and mugshot entered common use later. Modern senses of mug also include a large drinking vessel and, in informal British and American English, a foolish or gullible person.
Related word forms
How mugged is actually used
The term is primarily associated with street crime and usually implies a sudden attack, intimidation, or theft. It can sound journalistic or dramatic in formal descriptions, while informal usage may be more conversational.
Easily confused with mugged
Mugged is the past tense and past participle of the verb mug, meaning to rob or attack someone, while mug can also be a noun for a large drinking vessel or a slang term for a simpleton.