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.
Statewide, after national media for years showed images of thieves ransacking drug stores, Californians approved a ballot measure that tightened penalties on theft. Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024 Others, such as the Dickensian gang of thieves that briefly take George in, feel like they might have been airlifted in from a collegiate production of Oliver Twist. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024 Now the lone-wolf jewel thief is looking for that fabled final last score and Lou breaks all the rules of Crime 101. Katcy Stephan, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024 The company is working with law enforcement authorities to identify the cheese thieves. Kc Baker, People.com, 30 Oct. 2024 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 Nov. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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