thief

noun

plural thieves ˈthēvz How to pronounce thief (audio)
Synonyms of thiefnext
: 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.
Brewer said the thieves also stole the radar sensor from her husband's Honda. Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026 For the shoplifting incident, O’Neil was arrested and charged with larceny under $1,200 and being a common and notorious thief, police said. Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 8 Jan. 2026 As previously reported by PEOPLE, thieves entered Sanders' residence through an unlocked door and allegedly stole $200,000 in items in 12 minutes’ time, according to Medina County Sheriff’s Office deputies. Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026 Things quickly take a turn as a group of thieves break into their office, prompting Zara and Luke to carry out their orders, which includes stealing pensions. Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 7 Jan. 2026 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 10 Jan. 2026.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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