thief in law

noun

A criminal who is respected, has authority and a high ranking status within the criminal underworld in the old Soviet Union, Russia and the republics that formed the former Soviet Union.

OriginRussian вор в зако́не →
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Meanings

nounthief in law (plural thieves in law)

plural thieves in law

  1. A criminal who is respected, has authority and a high ranking status within the criminal underworld in the old Soviet Union, Russia and the republics that formed the former Soviet Union.

Origin

  1. Russianвор в зако́не
  2. Englishthief in law

Calque of Russian вор в зако́не (vor v zakóne).

More words from Russian

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 律賊 /律贼
  • 律賊 /律贼 (lǜzéi)high-status criminal in Russia, etc.
Estonian seaduslik varas
  • seaduslik varashigh-status criminal in Russia, etc.
Finnish laillinen varas
  • laillinen varashigh-status criminal in Russia, etc.
German Dieb im Gesetz
  • Dieb im Gesetzhigh-status criminal in Russia, etc.
Hebrew גנב בחוק
  • גנב בחוקhigh-status criminal in Russia, etc.
Latvian zaglis likumā
  • zaglis likumāhigh-status criminal in Russia, etc.
Polish wor w zakonie
  • wor w zakoniehigh-status criminal in Russia, etc.
Russian вор в зако́не
  • вор в зако́не (vor v zakóne)high-status criminal in Russia, etc.
Ukrainian зло́дій у зако́ні
  • зло́дій у зако́ні (zlódij u zakóni)high-status criminal in Russia, etc.
Cite this entry
APA

thief in law. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/thief%20in%20law

MLA

“thief in law.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/thief%20in%20law. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “thief in law,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/thief%20in%20law.

Source: thief in law on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.