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.
The thief was in the apartment complex mailroom, appearing to treat it like a buffet, grabbing whatever looked appealing and walking out the door with her arms full of boxes. Jeff Nguyen, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025 That’s a decrease of 13% from 2023, when package thieves nabbed 120 million parcels, according to Safewise. Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 18 Dec. 2025 Under the settlement, Hyundai and Kia will install a zinc sleeve to stop would-be thieves from cracking open a vehicle’s ignition cylinder and starting the car. Jack Dura, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025 Humphrey urged residents to reduce opportunities for thieves by locking their cars and removing valuables. Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Dec. 2025 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 19 Dec. 2025.

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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