thief

[ theef ]

noun

, plural thieves.

1. a person who steals, especially secretly or without open force; one guilty of theft or larceny.

   Synonyms: highwayman, pickpocket, burglar

thief

/ θiːf /

noun

1. a person who steals something from another
2. criminal law a person who commits theft

Derived Forms

• ˈthievishness, noun
• ˈthievishly, adverb
• ˈthievish, adjective

Other Words From

• under·thief noun plural underthieves

Word History and Origins

Origin of thief¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English thēof; cognate with Dutch dief, German Dieb, Old Norse thjōfr, Gothic thiufs

Word History and Origins

Origin of thief¹

Old English thēof; related to Old Frisian thiāf, Old Saxon thiof, Old High German diob, Old Norse thjōfr, Gothic thiufs

Synonym Study

Thief, robber refer to one who steals. A thief takes the goods or property of another by stealth without the latter's knowledge: like a thief in the night. A robber trespasses upon the house, property, or person of another, and makes away with things of value, even at the cost of violence: A robber held up two women on the street.

Example Sentences

Voters shouted that they want the thieves locked up, not the aftershave.

From Los Angeles Times

"Soon afterwards the thieves crawled back along the 40ft tunnel. They escaped through a back window leaving eight tons of rubble from the tunnel behind."

From BBC

Disneyland regulars who go on the ride multiple times will also become familiar with Lari the armadillo, a good-natured thief who appears multiple times throughout the ride.

From Los Angeles Times

Shopkeepers say Edinburgh's Royal Mile has become "lawless" with smash-and-grab thieves stealing thousands of pounds' worth of goods in recent months.

From BBC

In September, two thieves were arrested and charged over the theft of his famed Girl with Balloon piece from a central London art gallery.

From BBC

Related Words

• bandit
• burglar
• criminal
• crook
• mugger
• pickpocket
• pirate
• robber
• sniper
• swindler

More About Thief

What does thief mean?

A thief is a person who steals, especially in secret and without using force or violence.

The plural of thief is thieves. The related noun theft refers to the act or an instance of stealing.

In general, intentionally taking something that doesn’t belong to you makes you a thief. The word most commonly refers to a person who steals money or physical property, but a thief can steal other things, such as ideas, information, or intellectual property.

The word thief typically refers to a person who steals without anyone noticing, at least not when the theft is taking place. In contrast, a person who steals by using force, violence, or threats of force or violence would more likely be called a robber. Still, the word thief is used generally to refer to someone who steals. In this way, a robber is a kind of thief.

Most instances of theft are crimes, but a person might still be called a thief if they’ve committed a theft that won’t get them arrested. You might call your sibling a thief when they steal a cookie from your plate, for example.

Example: I don’t care that he only stole a few things—he stole them, and that makes him a thief.

Where does thief come from?

The first records of the word thief come from before the year 900. It comes from the Old English thēof.

There is no shortage of ways to be a thief, and many of them have a specific name. Some thieves steal small things. A petty thief is someone who has a record of small thefts. A shoplifter is a thief who steals from retail stores. Some thieves steal valuable items. Art thieves, jewel thieves, and car thieves are common characters in pop culture. A pickpocket is a thief who steals things, such as wallets or watches, directly from people’s pockets or from their body.

A burglar is a thief who breaks into or otherwise unlawfully enters a home or business to steal valuables. However, while burglars might be called thieves in general, this type of theft is more likely to be labeled as robbery, since it also involves trespassing on someone’s property and invading their space.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to thief?

• thieves (plural)
• thievish (adjective)

What are some synonyms for thief?

• stealer
• larcener
• larcenist
• pilferer

What are some words that share a root or word element with thief? 

 

• theft
• thieve
• thieving
• thievery
• thief in the night
• thick as thieves

What are some words that often get used in discussing thief?

 

• steal
• take
• criminal
• petty
• art
• jewel
• robber
• shoplifter
• pickpocket
• burglar
• mugger

How is thief used in real life?

Regardless of what they’re thought to have stolen, calling someone a thief is a serious accusation.

One time my brother was in the middle of moving, and had a storage unit. It was broken into, and the thief stole some of the artwork I'd given him…but not all of it.

I feel that's the harshest critique I've ever gotten

— looselybased (@hilarrifying) December 9, 2020

Talk about being a Grinch. A thief stole the car of a kind-hearted 75-year-old woman this morning who had stopped by a food pantry to make a donation. https://t.co/pcYVwveGJ6

— Dan Plutchak (@DanPlutchak) November 25, 2020

Might get a black turtleneck and a bandit mask and become a 1960’s cartoon jewel thief.

— Justin Staggs Ⓥ (@Staggfilms) December 8, 2020

 

Try using thief!

Which of the following people could be considered a thief?

A. a shoplifter
B. a pickpocket
C. a person who steals your idea
D. all of the above