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.
Karabash’s debut film appearance—as Gana, a nurse who steals patients’ ID cards and traffics them for identity theft in Bezbog (2016; Godless)—brought her instant acclaim, fetching her several best actress awards at the Locarno, Sarajevo, and Stockholm film festivals among others. Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 May 2026 Medicare enrollment season is prime time for identity theft tied to new account fraud. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026 Lawmakers said swapping out IDs was necessary to better prevent identity theft and fraud. Michael Van Sickler, Miami Herald, 19 May 2026 Last week, the Star-Telegram reported that Keomisy, formerly Shawna Gunter, was convicted in 2014 of wire fraud and identity theft for misrepresenting herself as a licensed health care professional while working in a Maryland pediatric office. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 May 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 20 May. 2026.

Legal Definition

identity theft

see also:

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