theft

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "theft" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the illegal taking of someone else's property. Example: After a long investigation, the police determined that the burglary was a case of grand theft.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Apple's chief designer Jonathan Ive recently criticised Xiaomi's alleged copying of its iPhone, saying: "It is theft and it is lazy.

The Guardian - Tech

They weren't too bothered by the pizza theft, but said the video shows the men driving dangerously.

The Guardian

Government figures estimate benefit fraud due to identity theft at between £20-£50m £20-£50mm, a fraction of the LSE's low cost estimate for the scheme of £10bn.

The Guardian - Opinion

A Minnesota national guardsman faces federal fraud charges in connection with the theft of names, social security numbers and security clearance levels of roughly 400 members of his former army unit in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The Guardian

Bowen police told Guardian Australia the theft had not been reported to them so they were not investigating.

The Guardian

One prominent figure on trial is businessman Oswald Lutepo, a senior official in Banda's party, who is accused of theft and money laundering and is alleged to have pocketed more than $6m from government coffers through ghost companies that did not provide any services to the state.

The Guardian

In August Nadir was convicted on 10 "specimen counts" of theft relating to £29m stolen in the late 1980s from the then FTSE 100 company he ran.

The Guardian - Business

As a consequence, even if the SFO had been aware of cheques to the Conservative party in 1993 – and assuming there was sufficient evidence of theft – prosecutors would not have been likely to add a count to the indictment.

The Guardian - Business

Their fellow prisoners will be a mixture of first-time offenders and seasoned recidivists, convicted for offences ranging from petty theft to murder.

The Guardian

The taking of two of these dotty works from a Notting Hill gallery is being treated as a big national news story, almost like the theft of a Rembrandt or a Picasso.

The Guardian - Arts

A theft worth £12.60 means the taxpayer will spend over two grand to keep Mulholland behind bars.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "theft", be specific about the type of theft if possible (e.g., "identity theft", "art theft", "petty theft") to provide clarity and context.

Common error

Avoid using "theft" when the situation involves deception or misrepresentation to gain something of value. "Theft" typically implies a direct taking, while "fraud" involves trickery or deceit.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "theft" is as a noun, referring to the act of stealing or the unlawful taking of someone else's property. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to describe illegal taking.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "theft" is a common and grammatically correct noun used to describe the act of stealing. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage for denoting illegal taking. Its frequency and distribution across diverse sources, particularly News & Media, suggest its broad applicability and comprehension. While synonyms like "larceny" or "embezzlement" offer specificity, understanding the nuances of "theft" ensures accurate and effective communication, as this analysis from Ludwig shows.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

larceny

A more formal and legal term for theft.

stealing

The act of taking something dishonestly.

misappropriation

The act of taking something for one's own use, typically without permission.

pilfering

Petty theft, especially of things of small value.

embezzlement

Theft or misappropriation of funds placed in one's trust or belonging to one's employer.

burglary

Illegal entry of a building with intent to commit a crime, especially theft.

robbery

The action of taking property unlawfully from a person or place by force or threat of force.

fraud

Wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.

plagiarism

The practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own.

conversion

Wrongful possession or disposition of another's property as if it were one's own.

FAQs

How is "theft" typically used in a sentence?

"Theft" is generally used as a noun to describe the act of stealing, as in, "The police investigated the reported theft of the valuable painting."

What are some synonyms for "theft"?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms such as "larceny", "stealing", or "embezzlement" to replace "theft".

What's the difference between "theft" and "burglary"?

"Theft" is the general act of stealing. "Burglary" specifically involves unlawful entry into a building with the intent to commit a crime, usually theft.

Is "theft" a formal or informal term?

"Theft" is a neutral term suitable for both formal and informal contexts. More formal alternatives include "larceny" or "misappropriation".