What is the Latin word for theft?

The usual Latin words for “theft” are fūrtum, pecūlātus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“theft” in Latin

fūrtuma theft, robbery; thieving, the act of robbing; a stolen thing pecūlātusembezzlement of public money or property, peculation

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

theft

furtum (general term, also, litterary term; Vid: Vitr., 7, praef., 7; for which ☞ only moderns use plagium): peculatus (ofpublic money). To commit theft, furtum facere; upon anyone, alicui: to commit litterary theft, auctorem ad verbum transcribere neque nominare (to copy a writer word for word without naming him, Plin., H.N., praef., § 22); alicujus scripta furantem pro suis praedicare (Vid: Vitr., 7, praef., 3).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for theft?: The usual Latin words for “theft” are fūrtum, pecūlātus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.