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
Yet, the Interior Ministry tracked down the theft to a museum restoration specialist who took the artifact and sold it to a silver trader, who passed it on to a workshop owner in Cairo’s historic jewelry district.
—
CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Egypt is no stranger to high-profile art and antiquities thefts.
—Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2025
The man is also charged with fleeing or attempting to flee a law enforcement officer by engaging in reckless driving, theft by deception, theft of property or services and criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, according to Wyandotte County court documents.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
Porth was charged in 2021 with theft over $250,000, which carries a prison sentence of 15-25 years.
—Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for theft
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CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Egypt is no stranger to high-profile art and antiquities thefts.
—Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2025
The man is also charged with fleeing or attempting to flee a law enforcement officer by engaging in reckless driving, theft by deception, theft of property or services and criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, according to Wyandotte County court documents.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
Porth was charged in 2021 with theft over $250,000, which carries a prison sentence of 15-25 years.
—Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for theft
Cite this Entry
“Theft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theft. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
theft
noun
: the act of stealing
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