# theft

/ˈθɛft/ (US) · /θˈɛft/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/theft
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

the act of stealing something that belongs to someone else. It is the general word for taking property without permission.

For teachers: the act or instance of dishonestly taking property belonging to another person with the intention of permanently depriving them of it.

## Examples

- The store reported the theft of several expensive watches.
- Police are investigating the theft of a laptop from the office during the lunch break.
- Identity theft has become a significant concern in the digital age as criminals exploit personal data to gain unauthorised access to financial accounts.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He committed a theft of my car." but "He stole my car." — While 'theft' is the name of the crime, learners often use it awkwardly in place of the verb 'steal' or 'rob' when describing an action.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the crime in general; countable when referring to a specific instance or event.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.