identity theft

noun

: the illegal use of someone else's personal information (such as a Social Security number) especially in order to obtain money or credit

Examples of identity theft in a Sentence

How can we protect ourselves against identity theft?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If identity theft or mistaken identity is involved, additional records may be necessary. Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 15 June 2026 If a fake page asks for your ID, scammers could use that information for identity theft, account takeovers or other fraud. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026 That uncertainty is part of what makes modern identity theft so effective. Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 June 2026 The lawsuit claims Trader Joe’s receipts violated federal law by displaying 10 digits of card numbers, risking identity theft. Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for identity theft

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of identity theft was in 1964

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Identity theft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/identity%20theft. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

Legal Definition

identity theft

see also:

More from Merriam-Webster on identity theft

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster