Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pilfer

/ˈpɪl.fɚ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.06 in modern English

Syllables: pil-fer
IPA: /ˈpɪl.fɚ/

11

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To steal in small quantities, or articles of small value; to practise petty theft.

Example Sentences

"pilfer goods"
"pilfer from a store"
"pilfer small items"
"The boy tried to pilfer sweets from the shop."
"Office supplies often get pilfered by employees."
"The truck carrying 413,793 units of a “new chocolate range”, about 12 tons of chocolate bars, was pilfered while driving through Europe on 26 March, Agence France-Presse reported."

Etymology

From earlier pilfre, from Middle English pilfre (“booty”), from Old French pelfre (“plunder, booty, spoils”), of unknown origin. Compare pelf.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: pilfre, pelfre

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈpɪl.fɚ/
British English: /ˈpɪl.fə/

Inflected Forms

pilfers (present, singular) pilfering (participle, present) pilfered (participle, past) pilfered (past) pilfre (alternative, obsolete)

Derived Forms

pilferable pilferage pilferer pilferingly pilferproof unpilfered

Frequently Paired Words

pelf fib

Synonyms

cabbage purloin pinch abstract snarf swipe hook sneak filch nobble lift

Questions

How do you pronounce pilfer?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpɪl.fɚ/.
What does pilfer mean?: To steal in small quantities, or articles of small value; to practise petty theft.
Where does pilfer come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce pilfer

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pilfer”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈpɪl.fɚ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “pilfer”.
Repeat and practice — Say “pilfer” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.