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
The Chan family believes the apparent theft was premediated.
—
Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
People convicted of felony mail theft could face up to three years in state prison, with longer sentences possible for those with prior criminal histories.
—Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Decades later, Carla Kirkeby—who lived in that house and discovered the theft of her parents’ jewels as a teenager—sat down with me to discuss her extraordinary life, the burglary, and our unbelievable connection.
—Jennifer Cannon, Vanity Fair, 7 Apr. 2026
After a theft on March 23, the Sheriff’s Office was able to identify the suspect as a 53-year-old man from Union City after tracking a vehicle to a scrap metal facility using an automated camera.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for theft
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Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
People convicted of felony mail theft could face up to three years in state prison, with longer sentences possible for those with prior criminal histories.
—Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Decades later, Carla Kirkeby—who lived in that house and discovered the theft of her parents’ jewels as a teenager—sat down with me to discuss her extraordinary life, the burglary, and our unbelievable connection.
—Jennifer Cannon, Vanity Fair, 7 Apr. 2026
After a theft on March 23, the Sheriff’s Office was able to identify the suspect as a 53-year-old man from Union City after tracking a vehicle to a scrap metal facility using an automated camera.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 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 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
theft
noun
: the act of stealing
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