Racketeered: meaning, definitions and examples

💰
Add to dictionary

racketeered

 

[ ˌrækɪˈtɪrəd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

criminal activity

To racketeer means to engage in illegal business activities, especially those that involve extortion, fraud, or coercion. This term is primarily associated with organized crime. Racketeering often implies the operation of a scheme in which illegal activities are used to generate profit. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) in the United States was enacted to combat organized crime's influence.

Synonyms

con, defraud, extort, swindle

Examples of usage

  • The mafia has been accused of racketeering.
  • He was indicted for racketeering and conspiracy.
  • The authorities are cracking down on racketeering operations.
  • They were caught racketeering for years without getting caught.

Translations

Translations of the word "racketeered" in other languages:

🇵🇹 extorsionado

🇮🇳 गुंडागर्दी करना

🇩🇪 erpresst

🇮🇩 memeras

🇺🇦 вимаганий

🇵🇱 wymuszony

🇯🇵 恐喝する

🇫🇷 extorqué

🇪🇸 extorsionado

🇹🇷 zorbalık yapmak

🇰🇷 갈취하다

🇸🇦 ابتزاز

🇨🇿 vydírat

🇸🇰 vydierať

🇨🇳 勒索

🇸🇮 izsiljevanje

🇮🇸 krafna

🇰🇿 бопсалау

🇬🇪 გამოძალვა

🇦🇿 şantaj etmək

🇲🇽 extorsionado

Etymology

The term 'racketeering' is derived from the word 'racket,' which can refer to a fraudulent scheme or a dishonest activity. The noun 'racket' has its origins in the mid-19th century, thought to stem from a slang term used to describe shady dealings or illegal businesses. The practice of racketeering became particularly prominent during the Prohibition era in the United States, where organized crime syndicates engaged in various illegal activities to capitalize on the ban on alcohol. The term gained legal significance following the enactment of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) in 1970, aiming to combat organized crime through the use of extensive definitions of racketeering activities. Today, racketeering is often used to describe a wide array of crimes that involve systematic illegal practices.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #43,747, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.