To pilfer means to steal small items, usually in a sneaky way and often repeatedly. When someone pilfers cookies from the kitchen jar, they're not grabbing a whole handful at once: they're quietly taking one or two at a time, hoping nobody notices. A clerk who pilfers office supplies might slip a few pens or notepads into their bag over several weeks.

Pilfering is different from robbery or burglary, which involve stealing larger amounts or breaking in forcefully. A pilferer takes small things in small amounts, often from a place where they already have access, like their workplace or a friend's house. Someone might pilfer candy from a store, pilfer coins from a sibling's piggy bank, or pilfer supplies from a school storage closet.

The word suggests sneakiness and repeated small thefts rather than one big crime. While each individual item might seem minor, pilfering still counts as stealing and breaks trust. Once people realize someone has been pilfering, they may stop trusting that person, even with small things.