thief

noun

plural thieves ˈthēvz How to pronounce thief (audio)
Synonyms of thiefnext
: one that steals especially stealthily or secretly
also : one who commits theft or larceny

Examples of thief in a Sentence

A thief took my purse. a thief has been stealing wallets and valuables from the lockers at the gym
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.
In each incident, thieves targeted late-model Hondas by breaking into driver-side windows with a blunt object or pry tool, and took the airbags from the steering wheels. Adam Harrington, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026 Investigators determined that unknown thieves broke into the school and stole multiple items, according to the release. Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026 Kevin's dream of being home alone quickly turns into a hilarious nightmare and battle of wits when a pair of bumbling thieves attempts to break into his house. Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026 Why don’t thieves ever rob politicians’ homes? Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thief

Word History

Etymology

Middle English theef, from Old English thēof; akin to Old High German diob thief

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thief was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thief. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

thief

noun
plural thieves ˈthēvz How to pronounce thief (audio)
: one that steals

Legal Definition

thief

noun
plural thieves
: one who commits theft
Etymology

Old English thēof

More from Merriam-Webster on thief

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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