pilferer

/ˈpɪlfəɹə(ɹ)/

//ˈpɪlfəɹə(ɹ)// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"pilferer" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“pilferer” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - One who pilfers.

Key facts for pilferer
PropertyValue
Headwordpilferer
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpɪlfəɹə(ɹ)/
Letters8
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “pilferer” sits in English frequency

pilferer falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

pilferer is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈpɪlfəɹə(ɹ)/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "One who pilfers.".

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for pilferer, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From pilfer + -er. The correct English form is pilferer, spelled P-I-L-F-E-R-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    One who pilfers.

Etymology

From pilfer + -er.

This word in other languages

chapardeur(Français)Langfinger(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "pilferer"?
"pilferer" is spelled P-I-L-F-E-R-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɪlfəɹə(ɹ)/.
What does "pilferer" mean?
As a noun, "pilferer" means: One who pilfers.
How do you pronounce "pilferer"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "pilferer" is /ˈpɪlfəɹə(ɹ)/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "pilferer"?
From pilfer + -er. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “pilferer”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is P-I-L-F-E-R-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpɪlfəɹə(ɹ)/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list