theft

American  

[theft] / θɛft /

noun

1. the act of stealing; the wrongful taking and carrying away of the personal goods or property of another; larceny.

2. an instance of this.

3. Archaic. something stolen.

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theft British  

/ θɛft /

noun

1. criminal law the dishonest taking of property belonging to another person with the intention of depriving the owner permanently of its possession

2. rare something stolen

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Usage

What does theft mean? Theft is the act of stealing. An instance of stealing can also be called a theft. A person who commits theft is called a thief. The word especially refers to a person who steals in secret and without using force or violence. In general, intentionally taking something that doesn’t belong to you is theft. The word most commonly refers to the stealing of money or physical property, but theft can involve the stealing of other things, such as personal information (which is called identity theft). The word theft often refers to a case in which a thief steals something without anyone noticing, at least not when the theft is taking place. In contrast, a case in which a person who steals by using force, violence, or threats of force or violence would more likely be called a robbery. Still, the word theft is used generally to refer to any case of something being stolen. In this way, a robbery is a kind of theft. Most instances of theft are crimes, but the word can be used to refer to an instance of stealing that wouldn’t get a person arrested. You might call it theft when your sibling steals a cookie from your plate, for example. A legal term for some kinds of theft is larceny. The word thievery can mean the same thing as theft, but it typically refers to the practice of stealing—thieves lead a life of thievery. Example: I don’t care that he only stole a few things—it’s still theft.

Other Word Forms

• antitheft adjective
• theftless adjective

Etymology

Origin of theft

before 900; Middle English; Old English thēfth, thēofth; thief, -th ¹; cognate with Old Norse thȳfth, obsolete Dutch diefte

Compare meaning

How does theft compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• theft vs. larceny

Explanation

Theft is the act of stealing something. If you've ever taken your sister's sweater without asking her first, then she's right: that's an instance of theft! The word theft refers to taking something from someone else without getting permission. Shoplifting is a form of theft, as is embezzling a million dollars from your business partner's Swiss bank account. In the United States, petty theft is the act of stealing anything worth less than $500, like someone's bike or a pack of gum. It's still a punishable crime, but you will get in much bigger trouble if you steal something more valuable, like a car.

Example Sentences

Like e-bikes, every advancement creates a host of new problems — hackers, identity theft, system failures, increased energy demands.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Sentencing him to two years and three months in prison, Livesey said the "opportunistic" theft caused "inconvenience and stress" to Dawson and her company.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Baldwin Park police have busted a massive catalytic converter theft ring after a nine-month investigation, authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

That data is considered highly sensitive because it can be used to commit identity theft, access financial or government records, and facilitate targeted harassment or intimidation, particularly if the data were mishandled or leaked.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

He simply printed up fake newspaper clippings with fake stories about the theft of a Murillo.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

Related Words

• break in
• burglary
• crime
• embezzlement
• extortion
• fraud
• heist
• holdup
• larceny
• looting
• mugging
• piracy
• robbery
• shoplifting
• thievery
• vandalism