Shoplift: meaning, definitions and examples

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shoplift

 

[ ˈʃɒp.lɪft ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

theft crime

To shoplift means to steal goods from a retail store or shop. This act usually involves concealing the items on oneself or in one's clothing before exiting the store without paying for them. Shoplifting is a common crime that can result in serious legal repercussions, including fines and imprisonment. Retailers often take measures to prevent shoplifting, such as security cameras and personnel monitoring.

Synonyms

filch, steal, thieve

Examples of usage

  • He was caught trying to shoplift a jacket.
  • Shoplifting can lead to a criminal record.
  • Many stores have policies to handle shoplifting incidents.

Translations

Translations of the word "shoplift" in other languages:

🇵🇹 furto em loja

🇮🇳 दुकान से चोरी करना

🇩🇪 Ladendiebstahl

🇮🇩 mencuri di toko

🇺🇦 крамнична крадіжка

🇵🇱 kradzież sklepowa

🇯🇵 万引き

🇫🇷 vol à l'étalage

🇪🇸 robo en tienda

🇹🇷 dükkan hırsızlığı

🇰🇷 가게 도둑질

🇸🇦 سرقة من المتجر

🇨🇿 krádež v obchodě

🇸🇰 krádež v obchode

🇨🇳 商店盗窃

🇸🇮 tatvina v trgovini

🇮🇸 þjófnaður í verslun

🇰🇿 дүкеннен ұрлық

🇬🇪 მაღაზიიდან ქურდობა

🇦🇿 mağazadan oğurluq

🇲🇽 robo en tienda

Word origin

The term 'shoplift' is a compound word that combines 'shop' with 'lift', where 'lift' refers to the act of stealing or taking away. The concept of shoplifting dates back to the rise of retail stores in the 19th century. As shops became more accessible to the public, the issue of theft emerged as a significant concern for retailers. Legal responses to shoplifting evolved with the development of laws specifically addressing retail theft. The word itself began to gain popularity in the early 20th century as a descriptive term for this specific type of theft. Over the years, it has become associated with various social and psychological studies related to consumer behavior, making it a well-recognized term in both law enforcement and retail management.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,713, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.