Shoplifter: meaning, definitions and examples
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shoplifter
[ ˈʃɒpˌlɪf.tər ]
criminal activity
A shoplifter is an individual who steals goods from a retail establishment. This act is typically motivated by a desire to obtain merchandise without paying for it. Shoplifting can take various forms, from concealing items in clothing to using sophisticated methods to evade security measures.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The store owner caught a shoplifter attempting to steal a pair of shoes.
- Many retailers invest in security systems to deter shoplifters.
- Shoplifters often target crowded stores during busy shopping hours.
Translations
Translations of the word "shoplifter" in other languages:
🇵🇹 ladrão de loja
🇮🇳 दुकान का चोर
🇩🇪 Ladenräuber
🇮🇩 pencuri toko
🇺🇦 магазинний злодій
🇵🇱 złodziej sklepowy
🇯🇵 万引き犯
🇫🇷 voleur à l'étalage
🇪🇸 ladrón de tiendas
🇹🇷 mağaza hırsızı
🇰🇷 점포 도둑
🇸🇦 لص المتجر
🇨🇿 zloděj v obchodě
🇸🇰 zlodej v obchode
🇨🇳 商店盗贼
🇸🇮 tat v trgovini
🇮🇸 verslunarræningji
🇰🇿 дүкен ұрысы
🇬🇪 მაღაზიის ქურდი
🇦🇿 mağaza oğrusu
🇲🇽 ladrón de tienda
Word origin
The term 'shoplifter' combines 'shop' meaning a place where goods are sold, and 'lifter', which refers to someone who takes something away, especially in a stealthy manner. The use of 'lifter' to describe someone who steals dates back to the early 20th century, where it was colloquially used to refer to thieves who would 'lift' goods from somewhere without paying. As retail stores expanded and security became more of an issue, the term became formalized, particularly in the context of laws against such theft. The emergence of shoplifting as a significant concern for retailers led to the establishment of various anti-theft measures and public awareness campaigns to educate consumers and discourage such behavior. Furthermore, as societal attitudes towards theft evolved, so did the legal repercussions for shoplifting, cementing the term's place in both legal and everyday vocabulary.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranking #37,986, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.