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
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.
James Agnew, 56, pleaded guilty to tampering with a deceased human body and identity theft, both felonies, in Jefferson County District Court, according to court records. Katie Langford, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026 However, identity theft doesn’t require submitting a claim for payment. Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026 Customers do not need to have experienced identity theft to submit a claim. Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026 The plaintiff alleged that a receipt bearing more than those five digits exposes cardholders to identity theft if the receipt is discarded or lost and ends up in the hands of a criminal. Melina Khan, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for identity theft

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of identity theft was in 1964

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Identity theft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/identity%20theft. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.

Legal Definition

identity theft

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