pickpocket

noun

pick·​pock·​et ˈpik-ˌpä-kət 

: a thief who picks pockets

Examples of pickpocket in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

John Turturro stars in the awards hopeful, which revolves around a pickpocket master who struggles to keep up with the changing times — phones are trackable, wallets rarely have cash and guns are hiding in plain sight. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 1 Nov. 2026

To paraphrase the old-school comedian Rodney Dangerfield, a pickpocket in 2020s New York gets no respect. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 30 Oct. 2026

Fittingly, Esposito plays Detective Warren, a former adversary turned friend of Turturro’s master pickpocket, Harry Lehman. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2026

In China, pickpockets use chopsticks, and bystanders tend not to interfere. — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pickpocket

• skyrocket
• docket
• locket
• pocket
• rocket
• socket
• sprocket

Kids Definition

pickpocket

noun

pick·​pock·​et ˈpik-ˌpäk-ət 

: a thief who steals from pockets and purses

Legal Definition

pickpocket

noun

pick·​pock·​et

: a thief who surreptitiously steals money or valuables from the pockets or person of an individual