thief

noun

plural thieves ˈthēvz How to pronounce thief (audio)
: one that steals especially stealthily or secretly
also : one who commits theft or larceny

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
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.
These ideas are laid out early in the first act, when an encounter between a policeman, Olim, and a fruit-stand thief, Severin, is presented to the audience. JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025 Authorities revealed footage of a home invasion in Florida that saw armed thieves holding a couple at gunpoint after tracking them down with an Apple AirTag this week. Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025 This way, when any potential thieves show up, the crunch of the leaves under sneaky paws will alert the woodrats. Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 15 Oct. 2025 The complaint alleges the data thieves could commit more crimes, including opening accounts, taking out loans and receiving government benefits using victims' information. Brian Sloan, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thief

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of thief was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thief. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

thief

noun
plural thieves ˈthēvz How to pronounce thief (audio)
: one that steals

Legal Definition

thief

noun
plural thieves
: one who commits theft
Etymology

Old English thēof

More from Merriam-Webster on thief

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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