What does robber mean?
A robber is a person who steals property, especially by using force, violence, or intimidation. In ordinary legal and journalistic contexts, the word identifies the offender rather than the act itself: “robber” contrasts with “victim,” while “robbery” names the crime. The term can also be used figuratively to describe someone who takes wealth, opportunities, or power unfairly. For example, “robber baron” is a historical label for an industrial or financial magnate accused of ruthless or corrupt business conduct. Although “robber” can apply to a thief generally, it most strongly suggests a direct, threatening encounter, making it especially common in phrases such as “highway robber,” “bank robber,” and “armed robber.” In older or literary usage, it may also refer more broadly to a plunderer or brigand.
nounA person who steals property, especially by force, intimidation, or violence. The term can also refer more generally to someone who obtains something unlawfully.
- A person who takes property unlawfully, especially by force, intimidation, or violence.
"The robber fled through the alley before the police arrived."
"The robber demanded the cash from the shopkeeper."
"The novel portrays the escaped robber as both a criminal and a sympathetic outsider."
The standard plural is “robbers,” used for multiple offenders or people in different cases.
"The police are searching for two robbers believed to have fled by car."
A robber takes what belongs to others; a robber baron takes what belongs to everyone else—sometimes with paperwork.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does robber come from?
The English word developed through Old French “robier,” an agent noun associated with “rober,” meaning to plunder or seize. Its ultimate source lies in Germanic vocabulary associated with taking by force, reflected in modern English “rob” and cognates such as German “rauben” and “Raub.” The development of “robber” preserved the older emphasis on violent seizure, a sense that continues to influence the modern word.
Related word forms
How robber is actually used
The word is forceful and usually implies theft involving force, threat, or coercion. It is sometimes used figuratively for an aggressive or exploitative person, while “robber baron” is a historical and political term for a powerful capitalist associated with predatory business practices.
Easily confused with robber
A robber is a person who steals; rubber is a resilient material, an eraser, or a type of footwear.
A robber steals property, commonly by force or threat, whereas a burglar is defined especially by illegally entering a building with the intention of committing theft.