verb
pilfer
Pilfer (verb) means to steal small amounts of things, especially items of little value.
verb
1
To steal small amounts of things, especially items of little value.
"The truck carrying 413,793 units of a “new chocolate range”, about 12 tons of chocolate bars, was pilfered while driving through Europe on 26 March, Agence France-Presse reported."
— Gloria Oladipo, Sugar high(st): more than twelve tons of KitKat’s ‘new chocolate range’ stolen in Italy (2026)
"Office supplies often get pilfered by employees."
"The boy tried to pilfer sweets from the shop."
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Etymology
From earlier pilfre, from Middle English pilfre (“booty”), from Old French pelfre (“plunder, booty, spoils”), of unknown origin. Compare pelf.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of pilfer?
"pilfer" (verb) means to steal small amounts of things, especially items of little value.
What is another word for pilfer?
Other words for "pilfer" include purloin, hook, lift, snarf, pinch, nobble.
