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 There’s a diverse range of character classes, called Vocations, to choose from for the Arisen, such as an archer and thief. George Yang, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024 Three days later, on a Friday, a trio of thieves drove up to Rosenheim’s shop and used a sledgehammer to smash holes in an exterior display window. Paul Schwartzman, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 Even harder to reconcile is how little is done with an enviable cast, one in which Marcia Gay Harden as Knox’s ex-wife and Al Pacino as a retired thief and reliable pal named Xavier are, bizarrely, the most muted colors. Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 These people, who are numerous, embarrassed and still finding one another, will say that Ashwin Deshmukh is a thief. Joseph Bernstein, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 And speaking of bags, a zippered tote is the best way to ensure that your belongings are secure and safe from pickpockets and thieves, which is why the stylish and packable Westbronco Crescent Crossbody Bag is an invaluable selection ahead of your spring trip. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2024 Last year, police in Minnesota and Connecticut issued similar warnings to residents when groups of Wi-Fi jamming thieves made their rounds. Julia Daye, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2024 Thayer estimates that the thief took $30,000 to $50,000 in merchandise, including several handmade leather jackets. Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2024 The thief stole 14 deer mounts, along with a bear hide, a wolf hide, a sheep hide, a mountain goat hide, and multiple boxes of .22 ammo. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thief.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near thief

Cite this Entry

“Thief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thief. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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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