# bandit

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbændɪt/ · frequency rank #17,764

## Definitions
1. One who robs others in a lawless area, especially as part of a group.
2. An outlaw.
3. One who cheats others.
4. An aircraft identified as an enemy, but distinct from "hostile" or "threat" in that it is not immediately to be engaged.
5. A runner who covertly joins a race without having registered as a participant.
6. Synonym of arse bandit.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Italian bandito (“outlawed”), a derivative of Italian bandire (“to ban”), from Late Latin bandīre, an alteration (due to Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐌽𐌳𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽 (bandwjan, “to signal”)) of Late Latin bannīre (“to ban”), from Frankish *bannan (“to ban”). Doublet of bandito.

## Easily confused with
- **bands** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bandit-vs-bands)
- **Bondi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bandit-vs-bondi)
- **bandy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bandit-vs-bandy)
- **Brandt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bandit-vs-brandt)
- **Benoit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bandit-vs-benoit)
- **Brandi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bandit-vs-brandi)
- **band** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/band-vs-bandit)
- **bait** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bait-vs-bandit)
- **banda** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banda-vs-bandit)
- **banded** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banded-vs-bandit)
- **bandar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bandar-vs-bandit)
- **banding** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banding-vs-bandit)

## Common misspellings (9)
`abndit`, `badnit`, `banddit`, `banditt`, `bandti`, `banidt`, `banndit`, `bbandit`, `bnadit`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/bandit