pilferage
UK[ˈpɪlfərɪdʒ]US[ˈpɪlfərɪdʒ]
n
The action of stealing things of little value, especially in small quantities or from where one works.
n
Goods stolen in this way; petty theft.
Morpheme Breakdown
pilfer
age
pilfer
to steal
age
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'pilferage' is built upon the verb 'pilfer', which entered English in the 16th century with the specific sense of stealing small items or trifles. Its ultimate origin is obscure but likely connects to Old French terms for plunder and spoils, reflecting a history of petty theft. The addition of the noun-forming suffix '-age', common in legal and formal contexts, transforms the action into a defined concept or category. Thus, 'pilferage' formally denotes the process or result of minor, often furtive, theft, a meaning that has remained consistent from its origins to modern commercial and legal usage.
Analysis
Structure: pilfer (to steal) + age (noun suffix)
'Pilfer' is of uncertain origin, possibly from Old French pelfrer (to pillage), itself related to pelfre (booty, stolen goods). The suffix '-age' is from Old French, from Latin -aticum, forming nouns denoting an action, process, or result.
Examples
The store installed security cameras to reduce pilferage by employees.
Annual losses from inventory pilferage amounted to several thousand dollars.
The contract included a clause covering damage and pilferage during transit.