kleptomaniac
C1Formal, clinical, sometimes used humorously in informal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A person who has a chronic psychological impulse to steal items, typically without economic need or motive.
In broader usage, can describe someone with an obsessive or uncontrollable desire to acquire things, not necessarily through theft, or used hyperbolically for someone who habitually 'borrows' without returning.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries a strong implication of a psychological disorder or compulsion, distinguishing it from a common thief. The focus is on the irresistible impulse, not the value of the stolen items.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The term is used identically in clinical and general contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, it implies a lack of control and a possible need for treatment. In informal, hyperbolic use, it can be lightly humorous (e.g., 'He's a kleptomaniac for office supplies').
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, reserved for specific contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be/be diagnosed as] a kleptomaniac[have/suffer from] kleptomania[steal/hoard] like a kleptomaniacVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He has sticky fingers (informal, less clinical)”
- “A case of kleptomania (to describe the behaviour)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in discussions of retail loss prevention or employee psychology.
Academic
Common in psychology, psychiatry, and criminology texts to describe a specific impulse control disorder.
Everyday
Used with caution, often in a knowingly exaggerated or humorous way ('My flatmate is a biscuit kleptomaniac').
Technical
Specifically in clinical psychology/DSM-5: 'Kleptomania' is the diagnosis; a 'kleptomaniac' is the diagnosed individual.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A – it's a noun. The related condition is 'kleptomania'. One 'suffers from kleptomania'.
American English
- N/A – it's a noun. The related condition is 'kleptomania'. One 'is diagnosed with kleptomania'.
adverb
British English
- N/A. 'Kleptomaniacally' is theoretically possible but extremely rare and awkward.
American English
- N/A. 'Kleptomaniacally' is theoretically possible but extremely rare and awkward.
adjective
British English
- Kleptomaniac tendencies are often linked to other disorders.
- She described her kleptomaniac urges as overwhelming.
American English
- Kleptomaniac behavior is a serious psychological issue.
- The store detective was trained to spot kleptomaniac patterns.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Simplified) Some people steal because they are ill. This illness is called kleptomania.
- He is not a bad man, he is a kleptomaniac.
- The therapist explained that a kleptomaniac doesn't steal for money or need.
- She was caught shoplifting again; her family worried she might be a kleptomaniac.
- Despite coming from a wealthy family, he was a diagnosed kleptomaniac who would steal trivial items like pens and sweets.
- The court ordered psychological evaluation to determine if the defendant was a common thief or a genuine kleptomaniac.
- Kleptomania, the disorder affecting the kleptomaniac, is characterized by a recurrent failure to resist impulses to steal objects that are not needed for personal use or monetary value.
- The memoir detailed her lifelong struggle as a kleptomaniac, describing the intense tension before the theft and the relief, followed by guilt, afterwards.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'KLEPTO-maniac' – a MANIAC for 'kleptos' (from Greek 'kleptein' = to steal). A maniacal stealer.
Conceptual Metaphor
THEFT IS A DISEASE / AN OBSESSION. The mind is a broken machine (compulsion).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation calques. The Russian 'клептоман' is a direct cognate and carries the same clinical meaning, but usage frequency may differ.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe any thief (misses the compulsive aspect).
- Confusing spelling: 'cleptomaniac' is a common misspelling.
- Using it as a verb ('He kleptomaniaced a pen' – incorrect). The noun is 'kleptomaniac', the condition is 'kleptomania'.
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario best describes a kleptomaniac?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A thief steals with motive (financial gain, need, revenge). A kleptomaniac steals due to an uncontrollable impulse, often feeling tension before the act and relief after, and the items stolen are usually of little value or use to them.
Yes. Kleptomania is considered a treatable impulse control disorder. Treatment often involves cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and sometimes medication, such as SSRIs.
'Kleptomania' is the name of the psychological disorder or condition itself. A 'kleptomaniac' is a person who suffers from kleptomania.
In a clinical context, it is a descriptive term. In everyday conversation, using it loosely or humorously to describe someone who just borrows things can be dismissive of a real mental health condition and may be considered offensive.