bandit

[ ban-dit ]
/ ˈbæn dɪt /

noun, plural ban·dits or (Rare) ban·dit·ti [ban-dit-ee] /bænˈdɪt i/.

a robber, especially a member of a gang or marauding band.
an outlaw or highwayman.
Informal.
  1. a person who takes unfair advantage of others, as a merchant who overcharges; swindler; cheat.
  2. a vendor, cab driver, etc., who operates a business or works without a required license or permit, and without observing the usual rules or practices.
Military Informal. an enemy aircraft, especially an attacking fighter.

Idioms for bandit

    make out like a bandit, Slang. to be extremely successful; profit greatly: The early investors in the company have made out like bandits.

Origin of bandit

1585–95; earlier bandetto, plural banditti < Italian banditi outlaws, plural of bandito proscribed, past participle of bandire banish, exile, announce publicly < Gothic bandwjan to make a sign, indicate (cf. band1) with v. suffix -ire < Latin -īre

Example sentences from the Web for bandit

British Dictionary definitions for bandit

bandit
/ (ˈbændɪt) /

noun plural -dits or -ditti (-ˈdɪtɪ)

a robber, esp a member of an armed gang; brigand

Derived forms of bandit

banditry, noun

Word Origin for bandit

C16: from Italian bandito, literally: banished man, from bandire to proscribe, from bando edict, ban 1