thief

noun

ˈthēf 

plural thieves ˈthēvz 

: one that steals especially stealthily or secretly

also : one who commits theft or larceny

Synonyms of thief

• robber
• burglar

Examples of thief in a Sentence

A thief took my purse.

a thief has been stealing wallets and valuables from the lockers at the gym

Recent Examples on the Web

Two alleged thieves who used distraction techniques to steal jewelry from elderly victims were arrested in Burbank last week, police said. —Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026

In that film, McAdams is bawdily hilarious yet shockingly believable as a high school girl who finds her body being embodied by Schneider’s boorish thief. —Jenelle Riley, Variety, 20 Jan. 2026

Set in the Forgotten Realms, the film follows Edgin (Chris Pine) and Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), a pair of thieves who band together with a budding sorcerer (Justice Smith) and a druid (Sophia Lillis) to find a magic relic to help clear Edgin's name and reunite him with his daughter. —Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026

Travelon Anti-theft Messenger Bag This messenger bag is designed to keep thieves out and your belongings organized. —Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 18 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English theef, from Old English thēof; akin to Old High German diob thief

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing thief

• sneak thief

Rhymes for thief

• beef
• brief
• chief
• fief
• grief
• leaf
• lief
• reef
• reif
• seif
• sheaf
• belief

Kids Definition

thief

noun

ˈthēf 

plural thieves ˈthēvz 

: one that steals

Legal Definition

thief

noun

plural thieves

: one who commits theft

Etymology

Old English thēof