bandit

noun
ban·​dit | \ ˈban-dət How to pronounce bandit (audio) \
plural bandits

Definition of bandit

1 plural also banditti\ ban-​ˈdi-​tē How to pronounce banditti (audio)\ : an outlaw who lives by plunder especially : a member of a band of marauders
2 : robber
3 : an enemy plane

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Other Words from bandit

banditry \ ˈban-​də-​trē How to pronounce banditry (audio) \ noun

Examples of bandit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Wild West came to Midtown on Sunday when at least three armed bandits — one of whom wore what witnesses described as a cowboy hat — bound workers in a massive jewelry-store heist, according to police. Fox News, "Employees tied up in ‘massive’ New York Diamond District heist," 26 Aug. 2019 A hundred yards on there is a magnificent oak tree, which the notorious California bandit Tiburcio Vasquez was said to have used to watch for his enemies. Charles Fleming, latimes.com, "L.A. Walks: Explore an old winery site on a La Crescenta ramble," 12 July 2019 Health workers have been stopped at informal roadblocks where bandits demand money. New York Times, "For the Third Time, W.H.O. Declines to Declare the Ebola Outbreak an Emergency," 14 June 2019 There were bandits in tsarist times, too, of course. Alex Abramovich, The New York Review of Books, "Dons of the Gulag," 9 May 2019 Whether with the Camel Corps or striking out with the camel on his own, Lurie keeps moving because of his bandit past. Los Angeles Times, "Review: Téa Obreht’s ‘Inland’ transports readers in a sweeping story of the West," 16 Aug. 2019 He is listed as playing the bandit position for the Trojans. Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, "Former Auburn edge-rusher Richard Jibunor transfers to Troy," 2 Aug. 2019 In the film, three bandits try to force Cooper to hand over the map to a gold mine. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, "Artur Brauner, Holocaust Survivor and German Film Producer, Dies at 100," 7 July 2019 Nevertheless, parents are reticent about encouraging their children to take a risky path, a decision that can lead to death at sea or at the hand of bandits. Milena Belloni, Quartz Africa, "Why young Eritreans are going to keep risking deadly migration crossings to Europe," 27 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bandit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of bandit

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for bandit

Italian bandito, from past participle of bandire to banish, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German bannan to command — more at ban

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More Definitions for bandit

bandit

noun

English Language Learners Definition of bandit

: a criminal who attacks and steals from travelers and who is often a member of a group of criminals

bandit

noun
ban·​dit | \ ˈban-dət How to pronounce bandit (audio) \

Kids Definition of bandit

: a criminal who attacks and steals from travelers and is often a member of a group

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