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Shoplifter vs Thief - What's the difference?

shoplifter | thief |

As nouns the difference between shoplifter and thief

is that shoplifter is a person who shoplifts, one who steals from shops while thief is one who has carried out a theft.

shoplifter

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A person who shoplifts, one who steals from shops.
    • Shoplifters will be prosecuted.

    Synonyms

    *shop stealer (Australia)

    Related terms

    *shoplift *shoplifting

    thief

    English

    Noun

    (thieves)
  • One who has carried out a theft.
  • (obsolete) A waster in the snuff of a candle.
    • (Bishop Hall)

    Hyponyms

    * burglar * cat burglar * mugger * robber * pickpocket

    Related terms

    * thieve * thief in law

    Derived terms

    * *

    Anagrams

    * English nouns with irregular plurals