thief

noun

plural thieves ˈthēvz How to pronounce thief (audio)
: one that steals especially stealthily or secretly
also : one who commits theft or larceny

Examples of thief in a Sentence

A thief took my purse. a thief has been stealing wallets and valuables from the lockers at the gym
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Home invasions, vicious biker gangs and a rag-tag task force looking for a group of thieves after a young child goes missing. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025 Unlike Mare, whose community was cloistered and intimate, Task builds a wider world of dealers, gangsters, and thieves, not always to its benefit. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025 Parking garage security cameras captured the break-in with the thief leaving the scene in a black Hyundai Elantra, according to an affidavit supporting Evans' arrest. David K. Li, NBC news, 17 Sep. 2025 The losses from the three burglaries included gold jewelry and electronics, but also some items that are less-commonly targeted by thieves. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thief

Word History

Etymology

Middle English theef, from Old English thēof; akin to Old High German diob thief

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thief was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thief. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

thief

noun
plural thieves ˈthēvz How to pronounce thief (audio)
: one that steals

Legal Definition

thief

noun
plural thieves
: one who commits theft
Etymology

Old English thēof

More from Merriam-Webster on thief

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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