What does pickpocket mean?
A pickpocket is a thief who steals from the pockets, purses, or handbags of other people, especially in crowded public places such as stations, markets, and busy streets. The word can refer to the person or, more rarely, to the act of stealing in this way. In modern usage it is mainly a noun: “The pickpocket fled before police arrived.” The verb “to pickpocket” is less common but remains understandable, especially in warnings about theft. The term carries a strongly negative connotation and is often associated with opportunistic crime against people in busy public settings. Pickpocketing has long been a concern for travelers and merchants, leading to advice about keeping valuables secure and avoiding display of cash or expensive belongings. Its compound structure plainly reflects its meaning: a “pick” who steals from a “pocket.” The word remains useful because it identifies a particular kind of thief more precisely than the general word “thief,” while its rarity as a verb keeps its everyday use focused on the noun.
A thief who steals from the pockets, purses, or handbags of other people, typically in a crowded public place.
"The security footage showed a pickpocket taking a phone from a passenger's bag."
Usually disapproving; often used in warnings about theft in crowded places.
To steal something from someone's pocket or handbag.
"The man attempted to pickpocket a customer while pretending to ask for directions."
Rare in modern English and less common than the noun.
The plural refers to more than one thief who steals from people's pockets.
"Police increased patrols after several pickpockets were reported at the festival."
A pickpocket is defined by the target: the pocket, not the person.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pickpocket come from?
The compound “pickpocket” is generally dated to the late sixteenth century. It combines “pick,” in the older sense of stealing or taking, with “pocket,” from an Anglo-French word meaning a small bag or pouch. Later English formed related words from both elements, including “pickings,” meaning gains or proceeds, and “pocketbook,” originally a small book or wallet.
Related word forms
How pickpocket is actually used
As a noun, “pickpocket” usually has a disapproving connotation and is associated with opportunistic theft in crowded places. The verb is much less common in modern English than the noun.