Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Larceny of goods committed in a shop; the stealing of goods from a shop.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Larceny committed in a shop; the stealing of anything from a shop.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun uncountable The action of stealing goods from a shop; the action of the verb shoplift.
  • noun countable A theft from a shop during trading hours.
  • verb Present participle of shoplift.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the act of stealing goods that are on display in a store

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

The noun sense (from 1690) predates the verb.

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Examples

  • The paper challenges the conventional wisdom that the observed rise in shoplifting calls for intensified monitoring and higher prices, showing that a rational response to increased shoplifting involves a reduction in both monitoring and prices.

    Crime and Law 2009

  • Meanwhile, how about some lessons in shoplifting from some petty thieves.

    Rev. Tim Jones, doing his bit to restore dignity to Anglicanism « Anglican Samizdat 2009

  • There are many benefits to being Anglican; Christmas shoplifting is just one of them.

    Thou shalt not steal « Anglican Samizdat 2009

  • But let me add that by your reasoning, the fact that almost everyone thinks that shoplifting should be a crime, whereas almost everyone thinks that discrimination should be punished as a less serious civil matter, means that almost everyone thinks that shoplifting is more serious than discrimination, which by your lights means that everyone is a racist.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » The “Racist” Charge 2010

  • David Bernstein: But let me add that by your reasoning, the fact that almost everyone thinks that shoplifting should be a crime, whereas almost everyone thinks that discrimination should be punished as a less serious civil matter, means that almost everyone thinks that shoplifting is more serious than discrimination, which by your lights means that everyone is a racist.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » The “Racist” Charge 2010

  • 'The regard that shoplifting is the most appropriate choice that the small people have been left with is the grim indictment of who you are.

    Archive 2009-12-01 admin 2009

  • A North Yorkshire Police orator said: 'First as well as foremost, shoplifting is the rapist corruption as well as to justify this march of action under any circumstances is rarely irresponsible.

    Poor? Go ahead and steal. - Shoryuken admin 2009

  • 'The regard that shoplifting is the most appropriate choice that the small people have been left with is the grim indictment of who you are.

    Poor? Go ahead and steal. - Shoryuken admin 2009

  • A North Yorkshire Police orator said: 'First as well as foremost, shoplifting is the rapist corruption as well as to justify this march of action under any circumstances is rarely irresponsible.

    Archive 2009-12-01 admin 2009

  • After all, a charge of shoplifting is very concrete.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » The “Racist” Charge 2010

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