A robber or outlaw, especially one who attacks people in remote or wild places. Bandits usually work in groups and often avoid normal laws.
It comes from Italian “bandito,” meaning a person who has been banished or outlawed. That word is the past participle of “bandire,” to proclaim or banish.
A bandit is literally someone who has been “banned” from society—an outlaw by name. The word shows how being pushed out by the law and living by robbery were deeply connected in people’s minds.
'Bandit' has often been depicted as male in literature and film, with female bandits portrayed as anomalies or romanticized figures. Some colonial narratives also used 'bandit' in racialized and gendered ways to delegitimize resistance movements, often erasing women's roles as political actors.
Avoid assuming bandits or criminals are male by default in descriptions or examples. When discussing historical 'bandits,' be precise about context and avoid using the term to delegitimize political dissent without explanation.
["robber","outlaw","thief"]
Women have appeared in historical records as leaders and members of outlaw and resistance groups, though their roles were often minimized or sensationalized instead of analyzed seriously.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.