noun · verb · 4 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.
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Pronunciation
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CMU ARPABET:SH AA1 P L IH2 F T IH0 NG
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The action of stealing goods from a shop, store or other place of business.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Examples
1757 December 22, The London Chronicle, Volume II: June 30 - December 31, page 594, Yesterday Afternoon a Woman well dress'd, was detected at Mr. Flint′s, a Haberdasher on London-Bridge, in Shoplifting, and on examining her, there were found on her some Goods belonging to Mr. Kennet, a Haberdasher at the same Place.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: retail theft
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A theft from a shop during trading hours.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: shoplift
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
present participle and gerund of shoplift
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
the act of stealing goods that are on display in a store
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
shrinkage is the retail trade's euphemism for shoplifting
