thief

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thief" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone who steals or takes something that does not belong to them. Example: "The thief was caught on camera stealing a bicycle from the front yard."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

Business

Books

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

McDonald's reinvention of the Hamburglar was seemingly meant as a play for refreshed cultural relevance, but deeply mixed reactions to the new beef thief raise the prospect that the corporation has miscalculated.

The Guardian - Business

The suspected thief is described as being white, 6ft tall, between 30 and 40 years old, of medium build, had a dark brown beard, wore a light grey hooded top with the hood pulled over his head, light blue jeans and black boot style training shoes.

The Guardian

Thedauntlessbookthief, site member My all time favourite book (that just so happens to be set during the second world war) is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

The Guardian

PetrovaFossil, site member My favourite second world war book is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak; I loved the way the characters spoke to me as if they were real.

The Guardian

He advised businesses and individuals alike to imagine a thief were outside their house trying to find a way in.

The Guardian - Tech

It also neatly tied together all of the conventions of quest-based multiplayer role-playing games: players took on a specific class of character – fighter, wizard, thief, etc – then "leveled up" by killing enemies with a range of weapons and spells, before collecting experience points and loot.

The Guardian - Tech

No common thief, he: a day later, he or one of his customers informed my friends via very polite emails that I was no longer in possession of the device.

The Guardian - Opinion

Meanwhile, the player will discover tomorrow whether he is to receive a six-game domestic ban and a £30,000 fine after allegedly claiming the referee in their 4-2 defeatoto Vitória was a "thief" on his Twitter page.

The Guardian - Sport

However, my to-do list is relatively short, as I get things done rather than leaving things hanging – as the poet Edward Young once said, procrastination is the thief of time.

The Guardian

Police are hunting for a thief who stole an elderly woman's purse as she lay dying in the road after being hit by a lorry.

The Guardian

The thief left the building unnoticed, then returned the artwork the next day by throwing it over the wall of the sculpture garden.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about crime, use "thief" to specifically denote someone who takes property without direct confrontation. For instances involving force or threat, consider using "robber" instead.

Common error

Avoid using "thief" as a blanket term for all criminals. A "thief" specifically steals, whereas terms like "fraudster" or "embezzler" describe different types of financial crimes.

Linguistic Context

The word "thief" functions primarily as a noun, denoting an individual who commits theft. Ludwig examples show it used to describe people who steal various items, from purses to intellectual property. The grammatical correctness is confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Books

15%

Tech

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Lifestyle

7%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "thief" is a common and grammatically correct noun used to describe someone who steals. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, books, and technology. While the term is generally neutral, it's important to distinguish it from related terms like "robber" or "burglar", which imply different circumstances of the crime. To avoid misuse, remember that "thief" specifically refers to someone who steals, while other terms may describe different types of criminal behavior. Using "thief" correctly will enhance the clarity and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

burglar

Refers specifically to someone who enters a building with the intent to commit a crime, often theft.

robber

Implies the use of force or threat of force in committing the theft.

shoplifter

Specifically steals from a store while pretending to be a customer.

embezzler

Someone who steals or misappropriates funds they were entrusted with.

fraudster

Someone who uses deceit or trickery to gain something of value.

larcenist

A person who commits larceny, the unlawful taking of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it permanently.

plunderer

Someone who takes goods by force, especially during wartime.

pilferer

Steals in small quantities or items of little value.

swindler

Obtains money or property by fraud or deception.

defrauder

Someone who obtains money or property by deception.

FAQs

What's the difference between a "thief" and a robber?

A "thief" /s/thief takes something without the use of force or threats. A "robber" uses force or threats to take something.

What are some other words for "thief"?

Depending on the context, you could use "burglar", "shoplifter", "embezzler", or "fraudster" instead of "thief".

How is a "thief" different from a burglar?

A "burglar" specifically enters a building with the intent to commit a crime, often theft, whereas a "thief" /s/thief can steal from anywhere.

When should I use "thief" instead of defrauder?

Use "thief" /s/thief when someone takes physical property. Use "defrauder" when someone uses deception to gain something of value, often money or assets.