Quick answer
A cutpurse is an old-fashioned pickpocket or purse thief.
Word page
Cutpurse Meaning
Cutpurse is an old word for a pickpocket or thief, especially one imagined cutting a money purse from someone’s belt. The word is beautifully literal: it tells you the crime and the method at once.
At a glance
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How to say it
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, a cutpurse is a thief who steals from people in public. In older settings, purses were often worn or tied to clothing, so cutting one loose could be a method of theft.
Example sentences
- Simple: The guard chased the cutpurse through the market.
- Everyday: A modern report would call the person a pickpocket.
- Writing: A cutpurse slipped between the stalls and vanished into the crowd.
- Nuance: Cutpurse suggests a specific old-world kind of street theft.
- Awkward: “Someone cutpursed my phone.” Better: “Someone pickpocketed my phone.”
Tone, context, and nuance
Cutpurse is vivid and historical. It works well in old city scenes, stage insults, and fiction, but pickpocket or thief is clearer for modern crime reporting.
Common mistakes
- Do not use cutpurse for every kind of thief.
- Do not confuse it with a handbag thief in every context; the old image is a purse cut from clothing.
- Do not use it in modern legal or police writing unless explaining historical language.
- Do not spell it as “cut purse” when using the established noun.
Synonyms and similar words
| Similar word | Difference |
|---|---|
| pickpocket | The clearest modern equivalent. |
| thief | Broader and less specific. |
| footpad | An old word for a robber, often on foot. |
| pilferer | A person who steals small things. |
| mugger | Modern and more violent; not the same as a cutpurse. |
Opposite words
| Opposite | Nuance |
|---|---|
| honest person | The plain moral contrast. |
| guard | Someone who protects against theft. |
| benefactor | Someone who gives rather than steals. |
Word family
Cutpurse is mainly a noun. It combines cut and purse into one compact label for a particular kind of thief.
Word origin
Cutpurse comes from the literal idea of cutting a purse loose to steal it. It belongs to older English street-crime vocabulary and survives because the image is so clear.
Writing tip
Use cutpurse when you want historical flavor or a vivid old crime word. Use pickpocket or thief when clarity matters more than atmosphere.
Common questions
- What does cutpurse mean in simple words? Cutpurse means an old-fashioned pickpocket or purse thief.
- How do you pronounce cutpurse? Cutpurse is pronounced KUT-purs.
- Is cutpurse still used today? It is rare today and mostly appears in historical fiction, older texts, or word lists.
- What is the difference between cutpurse and pickpocket? Pickpocket is the modern general word; cutpurse is older and suggests cutting loose a purse to steal it.
- What is another word for cutpurse? Related choices include pickpocket, thief, pilferer, and footpad.
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Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 14, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.