kleptomaniac

IPA/ˌkleptəˈmeɪniæk/
KK[klˌɛptəmˈeniæk]IPA/ˌkleptəˈmeɪniæk/

kleptomaniac — noun

  • kleptomaniacsingular
  • kleptomaniacsplural

1. a person who keeps stealing because of an inner urge they cannot manage, not bec

1.nounC2
Definition

a person who keeps stealing because of an inner urge they cannot manage, not because they need money

Example

Doctors said the teenager was a kleptomaniac, not a planned criminal.

contrast: compulsive stealing, not planned crime

At family dinners, everyone hid spare cash because Vivek was a kleptomaniac.

Common collocations
  • diagnosed kleptomaniac
  • suspected kleptomaniac
  • kleptomaniac patient
  • recovering kleptomaniac
Synonyms
  • thief

    broader everyday word for anyone who steals, without implying a mental health condition

  • shoplifter

    steals from stores specifically; may or may not steal because of compulsion

  • robber

    uses force or threats, unlike the compulsive stealing implied by kleptomaniac

  • pickpocket

    steals from pockets or bags in crowds; describes method rather than motivation

Usage Note

Usually used when repeated stealing is linked to a mental health condition or a loss of control, not for every ordinary thief.

Common Mistakes

The armed man who threatened the cashier was a kleptomaniac.
The armed man who threatened the cashier was a robber.
'kleptomaniac' suggests compulsive stealing, while 'robber' focuses on force or threats.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words involve taking things that do not belong to you, but they focus on different parts of the act. 'Thief' is the broad everyday word for anyone who steals. 'Shoplifter' is narrower and means someone who steals goods from a store. 'Robber' is different again because it involves force or threats, often in direct contact with the victim. 'Kleptomaniac' points to an uncontrollable urge to steal, often involving small items and no clear practical need for them. A kleptomaniac may also be a thief or a shoplifter, but the word highlights the person's condition rather than only the crime. For example, a robber demands money with a weapon, while a kleptomaniac may quietly hide lipstick in a coat pocket.

thief ↗shoplifter ↗robber ↗kleptomaniac ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • diagnosed as a kleptomaniac
  • treated as a kleptomaniac

Etymology

GreekFrenchEnglish

Kleptomaniac comes from kleptomania, a word built from Greek parts meaning 'steal' and 'madness' or 'frenzy'. English uses the ending '-ac' to name a person with that condition, so a kleptomaniac is a person affected by kleptomania.