theft — the action or crime of stealing
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the action or crime of stealing
Pronunciation (IPA): /θeft/
Example Sentences
- The museum installed new security cameras after the theft of the famous painting.
- My lunch keeps disappearing from the office fridge - it's clearly a case of sandwich theft!
- The police arrested three suspects in connection with the jewelry store theft.
theft
NOUN[/θeft/]
the action or crime of stealing

The thief snatched the woman's purse and sprinted away, committing a theft in broad daylight.

The theft left the empty display case completely bare. (🥷 Steal + 💰 Property → Theft)

After the theft, only one glove was left, leaving the owner completely bereft.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Theft derives from Old English thǣfth, sharing a common Germanic root with the word thief. The term fundamentally expresses the act of taking something secretly or unlawfully, rooted in Proto-Germanic language family.
Breakdown
thief (one who steals) + -th (abstract noun suffix indicating action or state), forming theft as the nominalized act of stealing.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The museum installed new security cameras after the theft of the famous painting.”
“My lunch keeps disappearing from the office fridge - it's clearly a case of sandwich theft!”
“The police arrested three suspects in connection with the jewelry store theft.”
“He reported the theft of his smartphone to the insurance company.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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