Designed to prevent or protect against theft, such as an antitheft alarm or security system.
From anti- (against) + theft (the act of stealing). This practical compound word became common in the 20th century as security technology and consumer goods proliferated.
Antitheft devices are everywhere now—from car alarms to security tags on clothes—but this word is a relatively recent invention that reflects how property crime became a major concern in modern society.
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