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

Consider identity theft protection If someone gains access to sensitive personal or financial information, identity theft protection can help monitor for signs that your information is being misused and provide recovery assistance if fraud occurs. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

The rate of identity theft fraud in Los Angeles County surpassed the national median during the first half of 2026, according to a new report by SentiLink, a fraud prevention company. — Kristine Lazar, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Replacing affected passwords promptly and using unique credentials help prevent credential stuffing attacks, account takeover and wider identity theft. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Read more The best identity theft protection services Are data removal services worth it? — Brian Sloan, CNBC, 18 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