A thief is a person who steals something from another person.
The thieves snatched the camera.
...car thieves.
Synonyms: robber, crook [informal], burglar, stealer More Synonyms of thief
thief in British English
(θiːf)
nounWord forms: pluralthieves (θiːvz)
1.
a person who steals something from another
2. criminal law
a person who commits theft
Derived forms
thievish (ˈthievish)
adjective
thievishly (ˈthievishly)
adverb
thievishness (ˈthievishness)
noun
Word origin
Old English thēof; related to Old Frisian thiāf, Old Saxon thiof, Old High German diob, Old Norse thjōfr, Gothic thiufs
thief in American English
(θif)
nounWord forms: pluralthieves (θivz)
a person who steals, esp. secretly; one guilty of theft, or larceny
Word origin
ME < OE theof, thiof, akin to Ger dieb < IE base *teup-, to cower, lurk
Examples of 'thief' in a sentence
thief
Derbyshire police had the chance to catch a thief but sent me instead.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Police used a spy camera to track a thief who was stealing their coffee.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The old thief stopped in two strides and sent me flying over his head.
Frankie Dettori with Jonathan Powell FRANKIE: The Autobiography of Frankie Dettori (2004)
Set a thief to catch a thief.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Officers are appealing for help in catching the thief.
The Sun (2012)
It may not stop a thief, but it will remind you before you leave it behind.
The Sun (2014)
The bishop is ahead, the thief runs to catch up.
O'Keeffe, John Your One Week Way to Mind-Fitness (1994)
Perhaps it's set a thief to catch a thief.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Come on big guy, just own up to being caught as a thief and stop looking for sympathy.
The Sun (2012)
This is most apparent on the stunning Stop Thief!
The Sun (2013)
The thief's catch of 46,000 might seem like small beer.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
A thief had taken her to Italy in 1911 but she had been quickly recovered.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But at no point are you asked for your PIN unless you specifically request that option; so a thief could steal the lot.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Quotations
Thieves respect property. They merely wish the property to become their property that they may more perfectly respect itG.K. ChestertonThe Man who was Thursday
Set a thief to catch a thief
Word lists with
thief
Criminal law terms
In other languages
thief
British English: thief /θiːf/ NOUN
A thief is a person who steals something from another person.
Reports say he was killed in an attack by armed bandits.
plunderer
mugger (informal)
shoplifter
embezzler
pickpocket
Markets are a pickpocket's paradise.
pilferer
swindler
purloiner
housebreaker
footpad (archaic)
cracksman (slang)
larcenist
Quotation
Thieves respect property. They merely wish the property to become their property that they may more perfectly respect it [G.K. Chesterton – The Man who was Thursday]
proverb
Set a thief to catch a thief
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bandit
Definition
a robber, esp. a member of an armed gang
Reports say he was killed in an attack by armed bandits.
Synonyms
robber,
or woman">gunman or woman,
crook (informal),
outlaw,
pirate,
raider,
gangster,
plunderer,
mugger (informal),
hijacker,
looter,
or woman">highwayman or woman,
racketeer,
desperado,
marauder,
brigand,
freebooter,
footpad
in the sense of burglar
Definition
a person who illegally enters a property to commit a crime
Burglars broke into their home.
Synonyms
housebreaker,
thief,
robber,
pilferer,
filcher,
cat burglar,
sneak thief,
picklock
in the sense of crook
Definition
a dishonest person
The man is a crook and a liar.
Synonyms
criminal,
rogue,
cheat,
thief,
shark,
lag (slang),
villain,
robber,
racketeer,
fraudster,
swindler,
knave (archaic),
grifter (slang, US, Canadian),
chiseller (informal),
skelm (South Africa)
Synonyms of 'thief'
thief
Explore 'thief' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of pickpocket
Definition
a person who steals from the pockets of others in public places