Theft Definition

thĕft
thefts
noun
thefts
The unlawful taking of the property of another; larceny.
The prevention of theft.
American Heritage
The act or an instance of stealing; larceny.
Webster's New World
Something stolen.
American Heritage
Larceny; the unlawful expropriation of someone else’s property with the intent of keeping it from its rightful owner.
Webster's New World Law
In its broadest sense, any example or act of stealing, which includes burglary, embezzlement, false pretenses, fraud, and larceny. While larceny is generally categorized as petty or grand depending on the value of the goods taken, theft is generally categorized by the type of property stolen.
Webster's New World Law
Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Theft

Noun

Singular:
theft
Plural:
thefts

Origin of Theft

  • Old English þȳft, þēoft, earlier þīefþ, þēofþ, from Proto-Germanic *þiubiþō, from *þeubaz (“thief"). Cognate with Old Norse þeoft, þeofð and (obsolete) Dutch diefte. Compare thief, -th.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old English thīefth

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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