identity theft
noun
: the illegal use of someone else's personal information (such as a Social Security number) especially in order to obtain money or credit
Examples of identity theft in a Sentence
How can we protect ourselves against identity theft?
Recent Examples on the Web
The Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services has warned that people can easily obtain fakes; in 2010, Puerto Rico invalidated all its existing birth certificates, citing rampant fraud and identity theft.
—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
Without security by design, businesses would be more vulnerable to breaches, cyberattacks or operational disruption, and all of us would face far greater risks of identity theft, financial fraud, privacy loss and service disruption.
—
Mark Thirlwell,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
Fast action can limit the financial damage and reduce the risk of identity theft.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2026
The Atlanta man had previously been convicted for fraud and identity theft, authorities said.
—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for identity theft
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
Without security by design, businesses would be more vulnerable to breaches, cyberattacks or operational disruption, and all of us would face far greater risks of identity theft, financial fraud, privacy loss and service disruption.
—
Mark Thirlwell,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
Fast action can limit the financial damage and reduce the risk of identity theft.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2026
The Atlanta man had previously been convicted for fraud and identity theft, authorities said.
—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for identity theft
Cite this Entry
“Identity theft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/identity%20theft. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
