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Armed robbery is a robbery committed while using, carrying, or brandishing a dangerous weapon or deadly weapon, or where the offense involves violence, threats, or intimidation under circumstances that result in enhanced criminal penalties. Under federal law, armed robbery is not defined as a standalone general offense but rather as an aggravating factor that elevates the severity of robbery charges under specific statutes.

The most prominent federal provision addressing armed robbery is 18 U.S.C. § 2113(d), which governs bank robbery and related crimes. This statute provides that any person who, in committing or attempting to commit a bank robbery, assaults any person or puts the life of any person in jeopardy by the use of a dangerous weapon or device, may be sentenced to up to 25 years in federal prison. The enhanced penalty reflects the heightened danger posed to victims and the public when weapons are involved in the commission of robbery.

The term "dangerous weapon" in federal robbery statutes is broadly interpreted and can include firearms, knives, explosives, or any object capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. Courts have held that even objects not traditionally considered weapons can qualify if used in a manner that threatens harm. The weapon need not be fired or displayed for the enhancement to apply; mere possession during the robbery can be sufficient under certain circumstances.

In true crime discourse, armed robbery is commonly used to describe any robbery involving weapons, but in federal criminal law the meaning is statute-specific and tied to the particular offense charged. The presence of a weapon transforms a robbery from a serious property crime into a violent felony with substantially greater penalties, reflecting the policy judgment that armed offenders pose a qualitatively greater threat to public safety than unarmed thieves.