Theft

Pronunciation: /θɛft/

Definitions of theft

noun the act of taking something that does not belong to you

Example Sentences

A1 Theft is stealing something that doesn't belong to you.

A2 She was arrested for theft after stealing money from the store.

B1 Theft can result in serious legal consequences, such as fines or imprisonment.

B2 Identity theft is a growing concern in today's digital age.

C1 Theft of intellectual property can have far-reaching effects on industries and economies.

C2 Theft of classified information is a major national security threat.

Examples of theft in a Sentence

formal The police are investigating the theft of valuable artwork from the museum.

informal Did you hear about the theft at the jewelry store last night?

slang I can't believe he got away with that theft!

figurative His constant lying is a theft of trust in our relationship.

Grammatical Forms of theft

• past tense: stole
• plural: thefts
• comparative: more theft
• superlative: most theft
• present tense: steals
• future tense: will steal
• perfect tense: has stolen
• continuous tense: is stealing
• singular: theft
• positive degree: theft
• infinitive: to steal
• gerund: stealing
• participle: stolen

Origin and Evolution of theft

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'theft' can be traced back to the Old English word 'theofth', which was derived from the Proto-Germanic word 'theubitho'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'theft' has retained its core meaning of taking someone else's property without permission, but its usage has expanded to include various forms of stealing and dishonesty.