Extortion vs Robbery

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Extortion

Formal Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Robbery

Beyond 10,000 (less common) B2 noun

Most formal: Extortion

	Extortion	Robbery
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ɪkˈstɔːʃən// 🇺🇸 //ɪkˈstɔrʃən//	🇬🇧 /["/ˈrɒbəri/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈrɑːbəri/"]/
Meaning	Getting money or something valuable through threats.	Stealing from someone, usually with force.
Example	The criminal was sentenced for extortion and threatening his victims.	**armed robbery** *(= using a gun, knife, etc.)*
Register	Formal	Neutral
How common	Beyond 10,000 (less common)	Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR level	-	B2
Part of speech		noun
Collocations	commit extortion, guilty of extortion, accusations of extortion, victim of extortion, charges of extortion	attempted, botched, bungled, commit, take part in, foil, attempt, charge, suspect, robbery with violence
Antonyms	-	generosity, donation
Common mistakes	Confused with 'extraction' - means to remove something., Incorrectly used as a verb. 'Extortion' is a noun., Overgeneralizing. Not all threats constitute extortion.	Confused with 'burglary', which is entering a place to steal when no one is present., Used as a verb; correct form is 'to commit robbery'., Omitting details about the violent aspect of robbery.
Usage notes	Used in legal contexts or serious discussions. Avoid informal settings. Common in crime-related discussions.	Used in legal contexts and general discussions about crime. It's inappropriate in casual conversations or lighthearted contexts.

See it in real clips

Avengers › Avengers Endgame

That's extortion. That's a word.

"WOMAN". 712 counts of extortion.

Avengers › Avengers Endgame

That's extortion. That's a word.

"WOMAN". 712 counts of extortion.

Extortion

Peaky Blinders › S1 E1

What robbery?

Robbery

Frequently asked questions: Extortion vs Robbery

What's the difference between Extortion and Robbery?

Extortion: Getting money or something valuable through threats. Robbery: Stealing from someone, usually with force.

Which is more formal: Extortion and Robbery?

Extortion is the most formal of these.

Can you show an example of each?

Extortion: The criminal was sentenced for extortion and threatening his victims. Robbery: **armed robbery** *(= using a gun, knife, etc.)*

Can I use Extortion and Robbery interchangeably?

Not always. Extortion and Robbery are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.