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

To be fair, IDX Complete offers much more than the rest, including full-scale identity theft remediation and a powerful VPN. — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026

Our guide to quiet signs of identity theft explains what can appear before larger problems surface. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Linares-Rea faces up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and two years for each identity theft count, prosecutors said. — Doug Myers, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026

An extraditable arrest warrant was obtained on charges of first-degree identity theft, second-degree money laundering, first-degree larceny, criminal impersonation and second-degree telephone fraud. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for identity theft

• bereft
• cleft
• deft
• heft
• left

Legal Definition

identity theft

see also:

theft