theft

"Theft" is a straightforward word with one core meaning, though it appears in a few different contexts — from everyday situations to legal language. Here is what you need to know.

1nountaking someone's property

Theft is the act of taking something that belongs to someone else without their permission — and without intending to give it back. Think of it as the general word for stealing. If someone takes your phone without asking and keeps it, that is theft.

everyday language / law · Modern, widely used

He was arrested and charged with theft after stealing money from his employer.

The theft of her bicycle left her with no way to get to work.

The store installed security cameras to prevent theft.

2nouna specific instance of stealing

You can also use 'theft' to refer to one particular stealing event — a single incident. So instead of talking about stealing in general, you are pointing to one specific case.

everyday language / news · Modern, widely used

The police are investigating a theft that happened at the museum last night.

There were three thefts reported in the neighbourhood this week.

The theft of the painting shocked the entire art world.

3nounfigurativetaking credit or ideas (figurative)

In a figurative sense, people sometimes use 'theft' to describe taking something non-physical — like someone's idea, work, or credit — without permission. It expresses strong disapproval, as if the person committed a crime.

everyday language / academia · Modern, widely used · figurative

Publishing her research under his own name was an act of intellectual theft.

Many fans called it theft when the producer used the songwriter's melody without permission.

Taking someone's creative work and calling it your own is a form of theft.