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Definition of thief

thief

/θiːf/
thief
Adverb:thievishly
•
Plural:thieves
•
Adjective:thievish
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thief Lexical Profile

thief Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person who steals another person's property, especially by stealth and without using force or threat of violence.

Example

"The security camera captured the thief slipping the wallet into his coat pocket."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for thief

Word Nuance & Usage

Unlike 'robber' (who takes property directly from a person using force or threat) or 'burglar' (who unlawfully enters a building to commit a crime), a 'thief' generally steals by stealth without confronting the victim.

• Rhymes for thief

• Nearby Words

thickness
thickset
thicky
thief
thieve
thievery
thieving

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'þēof', derived from Proto-Germanic '*þeubaz', making it cognate with German 'Dieb' and Dutch 'dief'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Thief. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/thief
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