pilfer
C1/C2Formal, Literary. Often used in news, legal, and descriptive contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To steal (typically small amounts or items of little value) in a petty or stealthy way.
To appropriate or take something without permission, especially in a minor, gradual, or surreptitious manner. The action is often viewed as sneaky or dishonest but not serious enough to be considered major theft.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a series of small, repeated thefts rather than a single major act. Often carries a connotation of moral judgement (despicable, sneaky) or triviality (insignificant items).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more common in British journalistic contexts.
Connotations
Both varieties share the same connotations of petty, sneaky theft.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but slightly higher in UK English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[S] pilfer [O] (He pilfered biscuits).[S] pilfer [O] from [X] (He pilfered biscuits from the tin).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"fingers sticky with pilfered sweets" (descriptive phrase)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe minor employee theft, e.g., 'pilfering office supplies'.
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical or sociological texts about petty crime.
Everyday
Not common in casual speech; 'steal' or 'pinch' are more likely.
Technical
Used in legal or loss-prevention contexts to categorize a type of theft.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Staff were found to have pilfered biscuits from the break room.
- The treasurer had been pilfering small amounts from the club's funds for years.
American English
- Someone's been pilfering pens from the supply closet.
- He was caught pilfering snacks from the convenience store.
adjective
British English
- The pilfered goods were of trivial value.
- A pilfering magpie took my shiny key.
American English
- The pilfered data was quickly recovered.
- She had a pilfering habit that got her fired.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Do not pilfer things from the supermarket.
- The office manager suspected someone was pilfering stationery.
- He was dismissed for pilfering from the till.
- The regime's officials systematically pilfered the nation's natural resources.
- Archaeologists lament how looters have pilfered the unprotected site.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PILGRIM secretly taking a FUR coat. PIL (grim) + FER (fur) = PILFER.
Conceptual Metaphor
STEALING IS TAKING SMALL BITES (incremental, repeated minor depletion).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'воровать' generically. 'Pilfer' is specifically for minor, sneaky theft, closer to 'стащить', 'стянуть', 'упереть' (colloquial).
Common Mistakes
- Using it for grand theft ('He pilfered the Mona Lisa' - incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'piller' (which is not a word).
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario best illustrates the meaning of 'pilfer'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's a mid-to-low frequency word, more common in written English (news, reports) than in everyday conversation.
'Steal' is the general, neutral term. 'Pilfer' specifies petty, often repeated, stealthy theft of items of low value.
Yes, but it's less common and slightly metaphorical (e.g., 'pilfering ideas from a competitor'). It retains the connotation of taking something small or in a sneaky way.
Yes, 'pilferage' (the act or an instance of pilfering) and 'pilferer' (a person who pilfers).