thief

noun

ˈthēf 

plural thieves ˈthēvz 

: one that steals especially stealthily or secretly

also : one who commits theft or larceny

Synonyms of thief

• robber
• burglar

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

The thieves bypassed alarm and security systems at the MuMe museum. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026

While attention in the city may have been elsewhere, thieves got past the alarm system at Messina's Museo Interdisciplinare Regionale (MuMe), and broke open a security case. — Willem Marx, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026

After spending years locked away in an isolated tower, Rapunzel is eventually rescued by the fugitive thief, Flynn Rider. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026

On the night of the burglary, the thieves first tried to get through the back door. — Michael Abeyta, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2026

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

Phrases Containing thief

• sneak thief

Rhymes for thief

• beef
• brief
• chief
• fief
• grief
• leaf
• lief
• reef
• reif
• seif
• sheaf
• belief

Kids Definition

thief

noun

ˈthēf 

plural thieves ˈthēvz 

: one that steals

Legal Definition

thief

noun

plural thieves

: one who commits theft

Etymology

Old English thēof