What does shoplifting mean?
Shoplifting is the theft of goods from a shop, store, or other business without paying for them. It is a specific kind of theft: the merchandise is taken from a place of sale, usually in person, rather than obtained through deception, online fraud, or burglary. The term is common in news reports, retail security discussions, and legal contexts. Shops use the word in phrases such as “shoplifting prevention,” while people accused of the activity are described as shoplifting suspects. Although “shoplifting” can refer to a single incident, it is normally treated as an uncountable noun and describes the activity generally. The word clearly identifies both the setting and the nature of the theft, making it more precise than simply saying “stealing” when the goods were taken from a business without payment.
nounThe act of stealing goods from a shop, store, or other business without paying for them or intending to pay. It is generally treated as theft and may result in criminal prosecution.
- The activity of stealing merchandise from a shop or store without paying for it.
"The store installed security cameras after a series of shoplifting incidents."
"The man was arrested for shoplifting from the supermarket."
"Shoplifting can lead to a criminal record as well as a store ban."
The usual form is uncountable: “shoplifting,” not “shopliftings.” The plural is occasionally used in formal or technical writing to refer to separate incidents.
"The report documented several shopliftings at the store."
Shoplifting is theft with a storefront: the word combines the place where goods are sold with the act of lifting them without paying.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shoplifting come from?
The word is formed by combining “shop” with “lift,” in the sense of taking or carrying something away. The compound “shoplifting” developed in the late 19th century as a name for stealing from shops, when shoplifting became a recognizable form of theft. Its elements are shared with related words such as “shopkeeper,” “shopper,” and “workshop,” although the precise meaning arose specifically from combining a place of sale with the idea of lifting goods.
Related word forms
How shoplifting is actually used
Usually uncountable and used as a mass noun. In legal and news contexts, it commonly describes the offence or activity as a whole rather than one individual act.