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

Most famously, in 1966 the trophy was found underneath a hedge by a dog called Pickles a week after thieves had taken it from Westminster Central Hall, London, following England’s victory. — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 19 July 2026

In the neo-noir crime thriller, Cole (Dane DeHaan) is a thief who makes a living hacking people's bank accounts from his car. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 17 July 2026

More than six weeks after copper thieves stole its air-conditioning units, the Centre Branch Post Office in Arden Arcade’s Country Club neighborhood remains without central air conditioning, leaving employees and customers to endure the summer heat. — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026

The thief's window of opportunity is the half-second between the user's hand and their pocket. — Antonia Bremeyer, Forbes.com, 17 July 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