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definitions

pilferage

[ pil-fer-ij ]
/ ˈpɪl fər ɪdʒ /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pilferage ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or practice of pilfering; petty theft.
something that is pilfered.

RELATED WORDS

misappropriation, thieving, steal, thievery, crime, touch, lift, pinch, robbery, stealing, burglary, theft, pilfering

Nearby words

  1. pileum,
  2. pileup,
  3. pileus,
  4. pilewort,
  5. pilfer,
  6. pilgarlic,
  7. pilgrim,
  8. pilgrim bottle,
  9. pilgrim fathers,
  10. pilgrim's progress

Origin of pilferage

First recorded in 1620–30; pilfer + -age
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pilferage

  • The damage and losses by pilferage of certain descriptions of goods are enormous.

    Rides on Railways|Samuel Sidney

  • The imperfect protection of a tarpaulin was, and is, a great temptation to pilferage.

    Rides on Railways|Samuel Sidney

British Dictionary definitions for pilferage

pilferage

/ (ˈpɪlfərɪdʒ) /

noun

the act or practice of stealing small quantities or articles
the amount so stolen
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 pilferage

pilferage

n.

1620s, from pilfer + -age.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper