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Definition of shoplift
shoplift
/ˈʃɑːpˌlɪft/
shop · lift
Past Simple:shoplifted
•Past Participle:shoplifted
•Present Participle:shoplifting
shoplift Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
Syllables
2
shoplift Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• verb
1
To steal merchandise from a retail store while posing as a customer.
Example
"The store installed new security cameras after several teenagers were caught trying to shoplift cosmetics."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for shoplift Antonyms
View all antonyms for shoplift• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A 20th-century back-formation from 'shoplifter' and 'shoplifting' (attested in the late 17th century), combining 'shop' with the slang sense of 'lift' meaning 'to steal'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shoplift. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shoplift