shopkeeper's privilege

noun

A law in the United States, according to which a shopkeeper can detain a suspected shoplifter on store property for a reasonable amount of time, as long as the shopkeeper has cause to believe that the detainee actually committed, or attempted to commit, theft of store property.

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Meanings

nounshopkeeper's privilege (uncountable)
  1. uncountablelawA law in the United States, according to which a shopkeeper can detain a suspected shoplifter on store property for a reasonable amount of time, as long as the shopkeeper has cause to believe that the detainee actually committed, or attempted to commit, theft of store property.
Cite this entry
APA

shopkeeper's privilege. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shopkeeper's%20privilege

MLA

“shopkeeper's privilege.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shopkeeper's%20privilege. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “shopkeeper's privilege,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shopkeeper's%20privilege.

Source: shopkeeper's privilege on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.