pilferage

[pil-fer-ij]

noun

1. the act or practice of pilfering; petty theft.

2. something that is pilfered.

pilferage

/ ˈpɪlfərɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act or practice of stealing small quantities or articles

2. the amount so stolen

Word History and Origins

Origin of pilferage¹

First recorded in 1620–30; pilfer + -age

Example Sentences

Further investigation by the SIT has revealed pilferage also from the pedestals and door frames and the court says that approximately 4.54kg gold has gone missing since 2019.

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Then there’s internal theft — pilferage or embezzlement by employees.

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Konchalski criticized “the rampant pilferage of talent” as “craven” before wishing subscribers continued success.

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"The bigger issue is a pilferage issue and it may not necessarily be around cabin crew," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

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The debate appears to have intensified after a column in the Kenyan newspaper Business Daily noted the “pilferage of African culture over the years, through the use of intellectual property rights.”

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