shoplift

verb

shop·​lift ˈshäp-ˌlift How to pronounce shoplift (audio)
shoplifted; shoplifting; shoplifts
Synonyms of shopliftnext

intransitive verb

: to steal displayed goods from a store

transitive verb

: to steal (displayed goods) from a store

Examples of shoplift in a Sentence

The manager saw the kids shoplift and called the police. The kids shoplifted candy from the store.
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.
Undeterred, Morgan shoplifts the piece of jewelry, setting off a chain of events so outlandish that this first season feels much longer than eight half-hour-long episodes. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026 In Big Mistakes, Levy and Taylor Ortega play siblings who shoplift a necklace from a jewelry store to give to their grandmother on her deathbed, only to be blackmailed by the mobsters that run the place into a series of increasingly stupid and dangerous errands. K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026 Despite the changes, some residents have concerns about shoplifting. CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026 Medina was arrested for shoplifting in June 2023 and released on a personal recognizance bond, according to court records. Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shoplift

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from shoplifter

First Known Use

1756, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of shoplift was in 1756

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shoplift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoplift. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

shoplift

verb
shop·​lift -ˌlift How to pronounce shoplift (audio)
: to steal merchandise on display in stores

Legal Definition

shoplift

intransitive verb
shop·​lift ˈshäp-ˌlift How to pronounce shoplift (audio)
: to steal displayed goods from a store

transitive verb

: to steal (displayed goods) from a store

More from Merriam-Webster on shoplift

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster