thief

[theef]

noun

plural

thieves 

1. a person who steals, especially secretly or without open force; one guilty of theft or larceny.

   Synonyms: highwayman, pickpocket, burglar

thief

/ θiːf /

noun

1. a person who steals something from another

2. criminal law a person who commits theft

Other Word Forms

• thievishness noun
• thievishly adverb
• thievish adjective
• underthief noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of thief¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English thēof; cognate with Dutch dief, German Dieb, Old Norse thjōfr, Gothic thiufs

Word History and Origins

Origin of thief¹

Old English thēof; related to Old Frisian thiāf, Old Saxon thiof, Old High German diob, Old Norse thjōfr, Gothic thiufs

Synonym Study

Thief, robber refer to one who steals. A thief takes the goods or property of another by stealth without the latter's knowledge: like a thief in the night. A robber trespasses upon the house, property, or person of another, and makes away with things of value, even at the cost of violence: A robber held up two women on the street.

Example Sentences

When he’s set up and robbed in his car, he winds up running over one of the thieves — twice.

From Los Angeles Times

“Who is also telling you that ... is a criminal and a thief,” the man said.

From Los Angeles Times

Flinging her drink at the alleged tea thief gave her time to flee, and she called 911.

From Los Angeles Times

A suspected thief is at large after four people were injured following an explosion at a house he targeted, police have said.

From BBC

A nest of thieves that includes Theo James and Sam Worthington is hiding inside an emptied apartment building eager to get to work.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bandit 
• burglar 
• criminal 
• crook 
• mugger 
• pickpocket 
• pirate 
• robber 
• sniper 
• swindler 

When To Use

What does thief mean?

A thief is a person who steals, especially in secret and without using force or violence.The plural of thief is thieves. The related noun theft refers to the act or an instance of stealing.In general, intentionally taking something that doesn’t belong to you makes you a thief. The word most commonly refers to a person who steals money or physical property, but a thief can steal other things, such as ideas, information, or intellectual property.The word thief typically refers to a person who steals without anyone noticing, at least not when the theft is taking place. In contrast, a person who steals by using force, violence, or threats of force or violence would more likely be called a robber. Still, the word thief is used generally to refer to someone who steals. In this way, a robber is a kind of thief.Most instances of theft are crimes, but a person might still be called a thief if they’ve committed a theft that won’t get them arrested. You might call your sibling a thief when they steal a cookie from your plate, for example.Example: I don’t care that he only stole a few things—he stole them, and that makes him a thief.