shoplift

verb

shop·​lift ˈshäp-ˌlift How to pronounce shoplift (audio)
shoplifted; shoplifting; shoplifts

intransitive verb

: to steal displayed goods from a store

transitive verb

: to steal (displayed goods) from a store

Examples of shoplift in a Sentence

The manager saw the kids shoplift and called the police. The kids shoplifted candy from the store.
Recent Examples on the Web He and Jose were later cited for shoplifting in Athens. Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2024 Readers Respond The previous question was from a reader whose friend admitted to shoplifting. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024 In January 2023, William M. Betts was caught shoplifting at the Zona Rosa shopping center. Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2024 Social security benefits have been cut 20 percent since 1996, with reports of some widows resorting to shoplifting. Richard Katz, Foreign Affairs, 31 Jan. 2024 Read Next National 74-year-old clerk pushed during shoplifting incident dies, deputies say. Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024 During the Judiciary committee meeting last week, Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville, took issue with one of the bill's most controversial provisions, which would allow business owners to use force to prevent people suspected of shoplifting from escaping. Rachel Smith, The Courier-Journal, 22 Jan. 2024 Most retailers have cameras now, but when asked, those in the industry consider security guards a much more significant deterrent to shoplifting. Stephen L. Carter, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2024 Downtown Spirits in Seattle installed Just Walk Out technology in August, with owner Marques Warren believing the technology, which prompts customers to input their credit card and personal information, would deter shoplifting. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shoplift.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from shoplifter

First Known Use

1756, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of shoplift was in 1756

Dictionary Entries Near shoplift

Cite this Entry

“Shoplift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoplift. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shoplift

verb
shop·​lift -ˌlift How to pronounce shoplift (audio)
: to steal merchandise on display in stores

Legal Definition

shoplift

intransitive verb
shop·​lift ˈshäp-ˌlift How to pronounce shoplift (audio)
: to steal displayed goods from a store

transitive verb

: to steal (displayed goods) from a store

More from Merriam-Webster on shoplift

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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