identity theft
noun
: the illegal use of someone else's personal information (such as a Social Security number) especially in order to obtain money or credit
Examples of identity theft in a Sentence
How can we protect ourselves against identity theft?
Recent Examples on the Web
By 2017, as data breaches and identity theft made headlines almost daily, IDIQ’s identity and financial protection platform resonated with consumers, and the company scaled quickly.
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Nia Bowers, USA Today, 4 June 2025
In March, after reaching an agreement with the prosecution, Larson pleaded guilty to one count each of theft by swindle and identity theft and faced a presumptive prison term.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 21 May 2025
Most often, scammers use this information to commit identity theft.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Crimes against property, which include burglaries, robberies, car thefts, shopliftings, identity theft, fraud and other types of theft, fell last year by 16.9%.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for identity theft
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Nia Bowers, USA Today, 4 June 2025
In March, after reaching an agreement with the prosecution, Larson pleaded guilty to one count each of theft by swindle and identity theft and faced a presumptive prison term.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 21 May 2025
Most often, scammers use this information to commit identity theft.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Crimes against property, which include burglaries, robberies, car thefts, shopliftings, identity theft, fraud and other types of theft, fell last year by 16.9%.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for identity theft
Cite this Entry
“Identity theft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/identity%20theft. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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