Definition

1. Noun:
   • An armed robber, especially one who commits a holdup: A "holdup man" is a person, typically male, who uses a weapon to threaten victims in order to steal from them, often in a direct confrontation such as a street mugging or a robbery of a business.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The police are searching for the holdup man who robbed the convenience store last night.
  • Witnesses described the holdup man as wearing a black mask and carrying a pistol.

Advanced Usage

• The term is somewhat dated and specific, often associated with mid-20th-century crime reporting. It emphasizes the confrontational, "hold-up" nature of the robbery where the criminal directly commands victims to comply.
• It is typically used in journalistic or narrative contexts rather than formal legal language.

Variants and Related Words

• Holdup (n): The robbery event itself.
  • The bank holdup was over in minutes.
• Robber (n): A more general term for a person who steals.
• Mugger (n): A person who attacks and robs someone in a public place (often without specifying a gun).
• Stickup man (n): A very close synonym for "holdup man."

Synonyms

• Armed robber
• Stickup artist (informal)
• Bandit (can be broader, sometimes not necessarily armed)

Related Phrases

• To pull/put a holdup: To commit an armed robbery.
  • The gang planned to pull a holdup on the armored truck.

Noun

1. an armed thief