thief
THEEF
Thief (noun) means a person who steals something, typically without using force or confrontation. Example: “The thief slipped the wallet out of his pocket without anyone noticing.”
noun
1
A person who steals something, typically without using force or confrontation.
"The thief slipped the wallet out of his pocket without anyone noticing."
"A thief broke in through the back window while they were asleep."
"The store hired security guards to catch shoplifting thieves."
How to use thief
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who takes things that don't belong to them.
Common mistake
A thief typically steals by stealth or trickery; a robber usually uses force or the threat of it — the two words aren't perfectly interchangeable.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
catch a thief
petty thief
thief in the night
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Word forms
- Plural
- thieves
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ slipped the wallet out of his pocket without anyone noticing.
Etymology
From Old English þēof, an ancient Germanic word for someone who steals.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for thief
See all rhymes for thief →Frequently asked questions
What does “thief” mean?
The word “thief” means a person who steals something, typically without using force or confrontation. In plain terms, someone who takes things that don't belong to them.
How do you pronounce “thief”?
“Thief” is pronounced THEEF (/ˈθiːf/ in IPA).
How do you use “thief” in a sentence?
Here is “thief” used in a sentence: “A thief broke in through the back window while they were asleep.”
What is another word for “thief”?
Words with a similar meaning to “thief” include abstractor, appropriator, bagger, booster, borrower and cribber.
What part of speech is “thief”?
“Thief” is a noun.
Where does the word “thief” come from?
The word “thief” comes from Old English. From Old English þēof, an ancient Germanic word for someone who steals.
Is “thief” a common word?
“Thief” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between a thief and a robber?
A thief takes property secretly and typically without force or confrontation. A robber uses force, threat, or intimidation to take something directly from a person, so all robbers are thieves but not all thieves are robbers.
What is the difference between a thief and a burglar?
A thief is anyone who steals. A burglar is a specific kind of thief who unlawfully enters a building, usually to steal, so burglary adds the element of breaking in.
What is the plural of thief?
The plural of thief is "thieves." The f changes to v before adding -es, following the same pattern as leaf/leaves and knife/knives.
What is the difference between a thief and a shoplifter?
A shoplifter is a thief who specifically steals goods from a shop while posing as a customer. Thief is the general word, while shoplifter names the particular setting and method of the theft.
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