# larceny

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈlɑː.sən.i/ · frequency rank #32,891

## Definitions
1. The unlawful taking of personal property as an attempt to deprive the legal owner of it permanently.
2. An individual instance of such a taking.

## Etymology
Coined in Middle English (as larceni) between 1425 and 1475 from Anglo-Norman larcin (“theft”), from Latin latrocinium (“robbery”), from latro (“robber, mercenary”), from Ancient Greek λάτρον (látron, “pay, hire”).

## Easily confused with
- **Larsen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/larceny-vs-larsen)
- **largely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/larceny-vs-largely)
- **Lacey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lacey-vs-larceny)

## Common misspellings (11)
`alrceny`, `lacreny`, `larcceny`, `larcenny`, `larcenyy`, `larceyn`, `larcney`, `larecny`, `larrceny`, `llarceny`, `lraceny`

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