shoplifter

noun

shop·​lift·​er ˈshäp-ˌlif-tər How to pronounce shoplifter (audio)
Synonyms of shoplifternext
: one who shoplifts

Examples of shoplifter in a Sentence

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 filmmaker behind a new movie about shoplifters shares the details of his disturbing run-in. — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026 Starring Keke Palmer and Demi Moore, the story is about a squad of radical shoplifters who find themselves at odds with a fashion mogul. — Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026 An alleged shoplifter was shot and killed by police Wednesday outside Town Center at Cobb mall in Kennesaw, Georgia. — CBS News, 28 May 2026 The film is a surrealist heist-comedy starring Keke Palmer as Corvette, the leader of a crew of professional shoplifters who set their sights on a ruthless fashion mogul played by Demi Moore. — Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for shoplifter

Word History

First Known Use

1680, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shoplifter was in 1680

Rhymes for shoplifter

See All Rhymes for shoplifter

Browse Nearby Words

shoplift
shoplifter
shop lumber
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shoplifter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoplifter. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

shoplifter

noun
shop·​lift·​er -ˌlif-tər How to pronounce shoplifter (audio)
: a person who shoplifts

Legal Definition

shoplifter

noun
shop·​lift·​er
: one who shoplifts

More from Merriam-Webster on shoplifter

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shoplifter

Nglish: Translation of shoplifter for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All