A person with an irresistible urge to steal, driven by a psychological disorder rather than actual need.
From Greek 'klepto-' (steal, from 'kleptes') + 'mania' (madness, from 'mainomai' to rage). Coined in the early 19th century as a medical term to describe compulsive stealing as a mental condition.
Kleptomania is one of history's most debated diagnoses—wealthy Victorian women were sometimes diagnosed with it to avoid prison, leading people to wonder if it was real psychological disorder or just an excuse for the rich.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.