1
a
: the act of stealing
specifically
: the felonious taking and removing of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it
b
: an unlawful taking (as by embezzlement or burglary) of property
2
: a stolen base in baseball
3
obsolete
: something stolen
Examples of theft in a Sentence
The theft of the jewelry and other valuables was immediately reported to the police.
He was found guilty of theft.
Recent Examples on the Web
California’s crime rate dropped last year to historic lows in several major categories, including violent crimes like robbery and homicides, with property crimes and incidents of car thefts also down, state officials announced.
—
Jazmin Alvarado,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
Cargo theft has been around for centuries, evident for example in the train robbers of the late 1800s, but soaring demand for AI hardware has shifted heist targets to data centers and the technology’s ever-expanding infrastructure.
—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
3 July 2026
Both suspects now face additional charges, including 28 counts of payment card theft, larceny, identity theft and conspiracy.
—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2026
The Ouachita County chief deputy collector was arrested this week in the theft of more than $3,500 in cash funds, a news release from the Arkansas State Police says.
—
Rafael Escalera Montoto,
Arkansas Online,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for theft
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Jazmin Alvarado,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
Cargo theft has been around for centuries, evident for example in the train robbers of the late 1800s, but soaring demand for AI hardware has shifted heist targets to data centers and the technology’s ever-expanding infrastructure.
—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
3 July 2026
Both suspects now face additional charges, including 28 counts of payment card theft, larceny, identity theft and conspiracy.
—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2026
The Ouachita County chief deputy collector was arrested this week in the theft of more than $3,500 in cash funds, a news release from the Arkansas State Police says.
—
Rafael Escalera Montoto,
Arkansas Online,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for theft
Cite this Entry
“Theft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theft. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
theft
noun
: the act of stealing
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