kleptomania

Or clep·to·ma·ni·a

[klep-tuh-mey-nee-uh, -meyn-yuh]

noun

Psychology.

1. an irresistible impulse to steal, stemming from emotional disturbance rather than economic need.

kleptomania

/ ˌklɛptəʊˈmeɪnɪə /

noun

1. psychol a strong impulse to steal, esp when there is no obvious motivation

kleptomania

1. A compulsion to steal, usually without either economic need or personal desire.

Other Word Forms

• kleptomaniac noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of kleptomania¹

1820–30; klepto- (combining form of Greek kléptēs thief ) + -mania

Word History and Origins

Origin of kleptomania¹

C19: klepto- from Greek kleptēs thief, from kleptein to steal + _-mania

Example Sentences

In the first part, he writes, “I’m not going to come out of the whole thing smelling of roses,” before detailing the rampant kleptomania of his late teens and his sex addictions.

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Bunny had had a mild tendency towards kleptomania, and was apt to pocket any small, valueless articles that caught his eye—nail clippers, buttons, spools of tape.

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The play takes the time to introduce their respective demons — alcoholism, kleptomania and violence, among them — then moves on with little resolution.

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She lost several jobs over greedy business negotiations for perks, and even had bouts of kleptomania.

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The judge said a diagnosis of kleptomania is not “a license to steal.”

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