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theft

theft

356 1.1
An act of taking someone else's property without permission to keep it
  • noun
  • /θɛft/
translation icon : robo
  • She reported the theft of her bicycle to the authorities.
  • petty theft
  • identity theft
  • auto theft

Trump's predicate was the theft of trade secrets.

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Examples

  • Are you gonna take me to jail for car theft?

  • There's been a theft in the area.

  • Tom was 15 years old with a history of legal problems related to theft and drug possession.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Most of the theft was simple and fairly obvious.

  • While there, he happened upon a case dealing with the theft of a turtle.

    Academic text (2011)
  • We have a warrant for your arrest for auto theft.

  • In effect, the initial theft has been compounded into a much larger loss.

    Academic text (1994)
  • In the sphere of tax refunds, identity theft is no small problem.

    Academic text (2017)
  • The events that followed the theft of the jug from the worker are conjecture.

    Academic text (1993)
  • I was impressed by the bouncers response to this theft of my tequila bottle.

Synonyms

looting
vstheft
72 4.9

Stealing things from shops, often during a riot or disaster

is the general unlawful taking term used across many everyday situations
larceny
vstheft
  • Formal
45 7.2

Stealing something that belongs to someone else to keep it

is the broader everyday term rather than the technical legal label
shoplifting
vstheft
43 2.5

Stealing things from a shop while pretending to be a customer

is the broad unlawful taking idea, not limited to retail concealment methods
identity theft
vstheft
28 3.5

Using someone else's personal details without permission to steal money or pretend to be them

is the general property taking concept rather than the fraud-based information misuse
embezzlement
vstheft
27 7.0

Taking money or goods that someone gave you to look after and using them for yourself

is broader, covering any unlawful taking not only entrusted funds misuse
grand theft
vstheft
  • Formal
20 6.8

Taking valuable things without permission that are worth a lot of money

is the broad act of taking property without focusing on value
thieving
vstheft
20 3.7

The act of taking things from other people without permission

refers to a single criminal act rather than repeated behavior
thievery
vstheft
14 5.6

The act of taking things that belong to other people without permission

is the legal act concept rather than the ongoing habitual practice
grand larceny
vstheft
  • Formal
8 7.9

Stealing things worth more than a set amount counts as a serious crime

is the general property taking concept without a value threshold
pillaging
vstheft
7 7.7

Taking things from places like shops during war or disaster

is the ordinary unauthorized taking concept, not requiring force or violence
stealing
vstheft
5 1.0

Taking something that belongs to another person without permission

adds the idea of intending to keep the taken property permanently
misappropriation
vstheft
  • Formal
5 8.6

Taking money or things you were trusted with and using them for yourself

focuses on breach of trust rather than any simple unlawful taking
pickpocketing
vstheft
3 3.7

Stealing small things, especially money, from someone's pocket or bag without them noticing

is the overall criminal concept not limited to stealthy close range methods
plundering
vstheft
2 6.0

The act of taking valuable things by force, often during war

occurs in chaotic situations, rather than the general wrongful taking in normal times
pilferage
vstheft
1 7.5

Stealing small items from a store or workplace, often done repeatedly

is the general unlawful taking concept rather than the petty repeated act
snatch and run
vstheft
1 7.3

To steal something quickly and run away

is the general taking concept not restricted to sudden grab and flee incidents
disappropriation
vstheft
  • Formal
9.9

Taking something away from the person who owns or uses it

is the common concept of unauthorized taking that emphasizes intent to keep
plunderage
vstheft
9.9

An act of stealing goods, often the cargo from a ship

is the general unauthorized taking idea not limited to maritime cargo cases

Compounds

Using someone else's personal details without permission to steal money or pretend to be them

grand theft
  • Formal
20 6.8

Taking valuable things without permission that are worth a lot of money

1 3.7

A device or system that stops people from stealing

Designed to stop people from stealing

How Serious

grand theft
  • Formal
20 6.8
theft
356 1.1
petty larceny
  • Formal
3 6.9

Surface Forms

theft singular
thefts plural

Etymology

Theft comes from the old English word thief plus a small ending -t that turns it into a name for the action, so it literally meant 'the act of a thief'. That's why theft means taking someone else's property without permission.