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Definition of shoplift

shoplift

/ˈʃɑːpˌlɪft/
shop · lift

Past Simple:shoplifted
•
Past Participle:shoplifted
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Present Participle:shoplifting
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shoplift Lexical Profile

shoplift Game Scores & Validity

• 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

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
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