verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ˈpɪl.fə/
US:/ˈpɪl.fɚ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:P IH1 L F ER0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To steal in small quantities, or articles of small value; to practise petty theft.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive
Examples
pilfer goods
pilfer from a store
pilfer small items
The boy tried to pilfer sweets from the shop.
Office supplies often get pilfered by employees.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
make off with belongings of others
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
