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definitions

cleptomania

[ klep-tuh-mey-nee-uh, -meyn-yuh ]
/ ˌklɛp təˈmeɪ ni ə, -ˈmeɪn yə /

noun Psychology.

kleptomania.

Nearby words

  1. clepe,
  2. clepsydra,
  3. clept,
  4. cleptobiosis,
  5. cleptocracy,
  6. cleptomaniac,
  7. clerc,
  8. clerestory,
  9. clergy,
  10. clergy, benefit of

Origin of cleptomania

< Greek klépt(ein) to steal + -o- + -mania
Related formsclep·to·ma·ni·ac, noun

kleptomania

or clep·to·ma·ni·a

[ klep-tuh-mey-nee-uh, -meyn-yuh ]
/ ˌklɛp təˈmeɪ ni ə, -ˈmeɪn yə /

noun Psychology.

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

Origin of kleptomania

1820–30; klepto- (combining form of Greek kléptēs thief) + -mania
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for cleptomania

cleptomania

/ (ˌklɛptəʊˈmeɪnɪə, -ˈmeɪnjə) /

noun

a variant spelling of kleptomania
Derived Formscleptomaniac, noun

kleptomania

/ (ˌklɛptəʊˈmeɪnɪə) /

noun

psychol a strong impulse to steal, esp when there is no obvious motivation
Derived Formskleptomaniac, noun

Word Origin for kleptomania

C19: klepto- from Greek kleptēs thief, from kleptein to steal + -mania
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for cleptomania

kleptomania

n.

1830, formed from mania + Greek kleptes "thief," from kleptein "to steal, act secretly," from PIE *klep- "to steal," an extention of root *kel- "to cover, conceal" (see cell; cf. Latin clepere "to steal, listen secretly to," Old Prussian au-klipts "hidden," Old Church Slavonic poklopu "cover, wrapping," Gothic hlifan "to steal," hliftus "thief"). Much-derided 19c. as a fancy term for old-fashioned thievery and an opportunity for the privileged to claim a psychological motive for criminal misbehavior.

There is a popular belief that some of the criminal laws under which the poor are rigorously punished are susceptible of remarkable elasticity when the peccadilloes of the rich are brought under judgment, and that there is some truth in the old adage which declares that "one man may steal a horse where another dare not look over the hedge." This unwholesome distrust is not likely to diminish if, in cases of criminal prosecutions where so-called respectable persons commit theft without sufficiently obvious motive for the act, they have their crime extenuated on the plea of kleptomania, as has recently occurred in several notable instances. ["Kleptomania," "The Lancet," Nov. 16, 1861]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for cleptomania

kleptomania

[ klĕp′tə-mā′nē-ə, -mān′yə ]

n.

An obsessive impulse to steal regardless of economic need, usually arising from an unconscious symbolic value associated with the stolen item.
Related formsklep′to•ma′ni•ac′ (-nē-ăk′) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Culture definitions for cleptomania

kleptomania

[ (klep-tuh-may-nee-uh) ]

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

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.