ban ‧ dit /ˈbændət, ˈbændɪt/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Italian ; Origin: bandito , from bandire 'to banish' ]
someone who robs people, especially one of a group of people who attack travellers:
They travelled 30 miles through bandit country.
—banditry noun [uncountable]
⇨ ↑ one-armed bandit
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THESAURUS
▪ thief someone who steals things from a person or place:
The thief grabbed her handbag and ran off down the street.
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Car thieves are operating in this area.
▪ burglar someone who goes into houses, offices etc to steal things:
Burglars broke into the house and took a computer worth £1,000.
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Police believe the burglar got in through the kitchen window.
▪ robber someone who steals from banks, offices, houses etc, especially using threats or violence:
a gang of bank robbers
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an armed robber (=a robber with a gun)
▪ shoplifter someone who takes things from shops without paying for them, especially by hiding them in their clothes or in a bag:
The store has installed hidden cameras to catch shoplifters.
▪ pickpocket someone who steals from people’s pockets, especially in a crowded public place:
Look out for pickpockets in busy tourist areas.
▪ mugger a thief who violently attacks someone in the street and robs them:
The mugger punched him in the face and tried to steal his wallet.
▪ joyrider someone who steals a car and drives it very fast for fun:
Police pursued the teenage joyriders across three counties.
▪ looter someone who breaks into shops or homes and steals things, after there has been a natural disaster, a war, or a violent protest:
Police chiefs have warned that looters will be shot.
▪ bandit a member of an armed group of thieves who travel around attacking people in country areas :
The village was attacked by a gang of bandits.
▪ poacher someone who hunts animals, birds etc illegally on other people’s land:
Their job is to prevent poachers from killing the elephants.