Meaning & use
pilferage
The act of stealing small quantities of goods, especially from a shipment, store, or workplace.
See it in a sentence
The warehouse installed new cameras after repeated pilferage of small electronics from incoming pallets.
Insurance policies for cargo often include coverage for pilferage as well as major theft.
A note on using this word
Pilferage specifically implies small, repeated thefts rather than one large theft, and is common in shipping and retail contexts.
Words with a similar meaning
petty theftpilfering
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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