# thief

/ˈθif/ (US) · /θˈiːf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/thief
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. one who steals

noun · CEFR A2

a person who takes something that belongs to someone else without permission.

For teachers: a person who steals another person's property, typically by stealth and without the use of force or violence.

- The thief ran away with her handbag before anyone could stop him.
- The thief managed to bypass the security system and escape with several valuable paintings before the guards noticed anything was missing.

Usage: The plural form is 'thieves'.

Teaching tip: While 'thief' is a general term, teachers should note that 'robber' implies force and 'burglar' implies breaking into a building.

## Examples

- The thief stole a bicycle from the garden.
- A clever thief managed to take the expensive painting while the security guards were changing shifts.
- The police believe the thief had inside information about the building's layout, as they bypassed the alarm system without leaving any physical evidence behind.

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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.