racketeer

1 of 2

noun

rack·​e·​teer ˌra-kə-ˈtir 

: one who obtains money by an illegal enterprise usually involving intimidation

racketeer

2 of 2

verb

racketeered; racketeering; racketeers

intransitive verb

: to carry on a racket

transitive verb

: to extort money from

Synonyms

Noun

• blackmailer
• extortioner
• extortionist

Examples of racketeer in a Sentence

Noun

the racketeer threatened to have his thugs vandalize the shop if the shopkeeper didn't pay him a monthly bribe

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Oh yeah, this relationship with this 38-year-old racketeer is so beautiful. —Michael Cuby, Them, 1 Aug. 2024

While President Herbert Hoover had waged a war against kidnappers and racketeers, Roosevelt amplified the effort dramatically, pushed it in new directions, and overcame the jurisdictional, racial, partisan, and class divisions that had previously obstructed the law-and-order state. —Anthony Gregory / Made By History, TIME, 23 July 2024

Verb

Three co-defendants accepted plea deals earlier this week on racketeering conspiracy charges and were sentenced to probation and time served. —Spin Staff, SPIN, 31 Oct. 2024

Zoom in: Madigan is charged with 23 counts ranging from racketeering conspiracy to a host of other crimes. —Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1924, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1928, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

racketeer

noun

rack·​e·​teer

ˌrak-ə-ˈti(ə)r

: one who gets money or advantages by using force or threats

racketeer verb

Legal Definition

racketeer

noun

rack·​e·​teer ˌra-kə-ˈtir 

: one that engages in racketeering

racketeer verb