Purloin

To purloin means to steal, typically something that belongs to another person or entity. It implies a clandestine or stealthy act of taking something, often involving a degree of deception or concealment. The item taken is usually something of relatively low value or significance, though the act itself remains a form of theft. The intent is often to deprive the owner of the item permanently. While synonyms and antonyms expand on shades of this meaning, the core concept of a secret theft persists.

Purloin meaning with examples

• During the museum's temporary exhibit, a visitor managed to purloin a small, antique silver locket. Security footage revealed the thief slipping it into their pocket amidst a crowd, hoping no one would notice the clandestine maneuver. The locket was a significant artifact, however, it was found the next day when the security footage was reviewed.
• The disgruntled employee decided to purloin several confidential files from the company's server. They waited until the end of the day when they had limited oversight of the other staff and when the cameras had gone offline. Their aim was to sell them to a competitor. It was only a matter of time before they were fired, as they were eventually caught on security footage.
• In the heat of the political rally, a protestor managed to purloin a campaign banner of the opposing party. They ran off into the crowd to escape security. Their actions quickly changed the atmosphere of the rally with their ability to steal the banner, but they faced consequences. The authorities had no issues finding the thief.
• The magician was known for his amazing skills that allowed him to purloin small items from his audience during his act. A wedding ring from a volunteer, a wallet from a man at the back and a mobile phone from the front row. The audience thought it was hilarious, but the owners of the possessions could be sure to retrieve their items, and that's what mattered.