thievery
AmericanUsage
What does thievery mean? Thievery is the practice of thieving—stealing. Thieves lead a life of thievery. The words thief and theft are often used in situations in which a person steals in secret and without using force or violence. However, the word thievery is used in the context of all kinds of thefts, even violent ones. Thieve and thievery often imply that such activity is habitual or part of a criminal lifestyle. Example: He is a pirate, a rogue—he knows nothing but lies and thievery.
Etymology
Origin of thievery
Explanation
Use the noun thievery when you need a colorful, old fashioned way to describe stealing: you might complain bitterly about the thievery in your neighborhood after having your third bicycle stolen in a month. If you're worried about thievery, you might install a burglar alarm or get a big barking dog. A more common way to say thievery is theft, or in a police report, larceny. It's easy to see where the word thievery comes from — to thieve is to steal, and both words come from the Old English root þeof, or thief.
Vocabulary lists containing thievery
List 6
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Every time the county’s Medical Alert Center wanted to refer a patient to St. Vincent, Taylor’s cellphone rang with Thievery Corporation’s “Lebanese Blonde.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2020
Founded and led by keyboardist Darryl “Trane” Burke, who produced the album with Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation, The Archives play at a very high level.
From Washington Times • May 29, 2020
Artists appearing at this year's festival, which runs from Thursday until Sunday, include Goldie, Leftfield and Thievery Corporation.
From BBC • Jul. 26, 2018
Their first album, “Sounds From the Thievery Hi-Fi,” did extraordinarily well, and just like that, the crowds at the lounge began to reflect the band’s international fan base.
From Washington Post • Oct. 7, 2015
Robin beats the air with her fists and yells, “Cory, Cory, stop being a victiml” Thievery is nothing, apparently, compared to the crime of victimhood.
From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
