petty larceny: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, legal, journalistic, sometimes figurative in informal speech.
Quick answer
What does “petty larceny” mean?
A legal term for the crime of stealing property of low monetary value.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A legal term for the crime of stealing property of low monetary value.
Used figuratively to describe any minor theft or act of selfishness perceived as trivial but morally questionable.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'larceny' is a specific, historical common law term largely replaced by 'theft' in statutes, though still used technically. In the US, 'petty larceny' is a widely used statutory classification. UK equivalent terms include 'minor theft' or 'summary theft'.
Connotations
Both share a core legal meaning. Figurative use is more common in AmE journalistic and political commentary.
Frequency
More frequent in AmE legal and media contexts. In BrE, 'theft' or 'shoplifting' (for a specific type) are more common in everyday language.
Grammar
How to Use “petty larceny” in a Sentence
<person/group> committed/was charged with petty larcenyThe offense was classified as petty larceny.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “petty larceny” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was done for petty larceny after nicking batteries from the shop.
- They accused him of having petty-larcenied the tools, but it was a joke.
American English
- She was arrested for petty larcenizing from the department store.
- He petty-larcenied a candy bar, a foolish risk.
adverb
British English
- He acted petty-larceniously, swiping pens from the supply closet.
American English
- The act was committed petty-larceniously, without much forethought.
adjective
British English
- His was a petty-larceny offence, not a major crime.
- The petty-larceny threshold is set at £200.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Might appear in loss prevention reports or insurance claims regarding employee theft of small items.
Academic
Used in legal studies, criminology, and sociology papers discussing crime classification and minor offenses.
Everyday
Used when discussing minor crimes in the news or figuratively for trivial misdeeds (e.g., 'Taking office supplies is just petty larceny').
Technical
A precise legal term defining a category of theft based on the value of stolen property, with specific jurisdictional thresholds.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “petty larceny”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “petty larceny”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “petty larceny”
- Confusing 'petty larceny' with 'grand larceny'.
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'a petty larceny act' is redundant; use 'a petty larceny' or 'a petty theft').
- Misspelling 'larceny' as 'larseny' or 'larceny'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The difference is primarily the monetary value of the stolen property. Petty larceny involves property below a specific statutory value (which varies by jurisdiction), while grand larceny involves property above that value and is a more serious felony.
In most US jurisdictions, petty larceny is classified as a misdemeanor, whereas grand larceny is a felony. The specific classification can vary by state law.
Yes, it is often used figuratively in journalism and everyday speech to describe any minor, morally dubious act of taking something, often to imply it is trivial yet wrong.
"Petty theft" or simply "minor theft" are more common. "Shoplifting" is a specific type of petty theft/larceny.
A legal term for the crime of stealing property of low monetary value.
Petty larceny is usually formal, legal, journalistic, sometimes figurative in informal speech. in register.
Petty larceny: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpɛti ˈlɑːs(ə)ni/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɛti ˈlɑːrsəni/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's just petty larceny.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'petty' (small-minded, trivial) person committing 'larceny' (theft). It's small-scale stealing.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRIME IS A COMMERCE/SCALE (petty vs. grand), MISCONDUCT IS THEFT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'petty larceny' used figuratively?