pilferage
pilferage — noun
1. Stealing small or cheap items, often done secretly and especially from one's wor
Stealing small or cheap items, often done secretly and especially from one's workplace.
The manager noticed that small stationery items were disappearing due to pilferage by staff.
collocation: pilferage by [someone]
The shop lost thousands of dollars each year to pilferage by customers and employees alike.
Security cameras were installed in the warehouse to reduce pilferage among the night workers.
Rohan was dismissed after the company found clear evidence of pilferage from the supply closet.
Most pilferage cases involve small items like pens, notebooks, or snacks that go unnoticed easily.
- theft
The most general term; covers stealing of any value, from small items to large sums or money
- shoplifting
Specifically refers to stealing goods from a retail store while pretending to be a customer
- petty theft
A legal classification for theft of low-value items; very close in meaning to pilferage
用法筆記
Pilferage is a formal or technical term used especially in business, retail, and workplace contexts. It refers specifically to small-scale stealing, not to major theft or robbery. The related verb 'pilfer' is less formal but still more formal in tone than 'steal.'