kleptomaniac

/ˌklɛptəˈmeɪniæk/

Other forms: kleptomaniacs

If you notice that every time your friend Sarah comes over, all your binder clips and pens disappear, it may be that your friend is a kleptomaniac.

If you’ve ever known a kleptomaniac, it won’t surprise you to learn that the word kleptomaniac has origins that trace back to the Greek words for “thief” and “madness.” A kleptomaniac has a mental disorder that compels the person to steal. Unlike a shoplifter, who will steal an item he or she wants or needs, a kleptomaniac steals for the thrill of stealing, often taking items that have little or no value.

Definitions of kleptomaniac

1. noun

   someone with an irrational urge to steal in the absence of an economic motive
   synonyms: klepto

   type of:

   appropriator

   someone who takes for his or her own use (especially without permission)