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.
The high price of eggs has consumers balking, grocery stores placing limits on what people can buy, and thieves treating them as if hen eggs were Faberge. Kevin Williams, Quartz, 6 Feb. 2025 Some Fort Worth neighborhoods keep losing internet for weeks because thieves have been stealing copper from cable lines. Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 5 Feb. 2025 Long-haul and overnight flights, for example, give thieves ample time and opportunity to peruse through suitcases and personal item bags while passengers are asleep. Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 2 Feb. 2025 The thieves ran from the gallery with four Andy Warhol works. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Jan. 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

Dictionary Entries Near thief

Cite this Entry

“Thief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thief. Accessed 22 Feb. 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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