What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pilferage
Example
The company suffered from pilferage due to employees stealing office supplies. [pilferage: noun]
Example
She was caught pilfering money from her roommate's purse. [pilfering: gerund or present participle]
thievery
Example
The museum was robbed of its most valuable paintings in a daring act of thievery. [thievery: noun]
Example
He was arrested for thievery after stealing a car from the dealership. [thievery: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Thievery is more commonly used than pilferage in everyday language. Thievery is associated with more serious or organized crime, while pilferage is often used to describe minor theft or petty crime.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between pilferage and thievery?
Both pilferage and thievery are formal words and are typically used in legal or official contexts.
