pillage

American  

[pil-ij] / ˈpɪl ɪdʒ /

verb (used with object)

pillaged, pillaging

1. to strip ruthlessly of money or goods by open violence, as in war; plunder.

   The barbarians pillaged every conquered city.

   Synonyms:

   rape, despoil, spoil, sack, rob

2. to take as booty.

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verb (used without object)

pillaged, pillaging

1. to rob with open violence; take booty.

   Soldiers roamed the countryside, pillaging and killing.

noun

1. the act of plundering, especially in war.

   Synonyms:

   spoliation, depredation, rapine

2. booty or spoil.

   Synonyms:

   plunder

pillage British  

/ ˈpɪlɪdʒ /

verb

1. to rob (a town, village, etc) of (booty or spoils), esp during a war

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noun

1. the act of pillaging

2. something obtained by pillaging; booty

Other Word Forms

• pillager noun
• unpillaged adjective

Etymology

Origin of pillage

1350–1400; Middle English pilage ( pill ³, -age ), modeled on Middle French pillage (derivative of piller to pillage, originally, to abuse, mistreat, tear, of uncertain origin)

Example Sentences

In the UK the practice reportedly links back to the Viking pillage of Lindisfarne.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

That was Hirsh Jain’s intention, the filing said, citing an alleged text to Radha Jain in which he said: “I’m down to pillage the best devs at Palantir when they’re at their maximum richness.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 11, 2025

In theory, pirates plunder and pillage outside the law, while corsairs were privateers regulated by authorities.

From National Geographic • Jan. 11, 2024

On trash day, they pillage residential garbage bins with the nonchalance of cruise ship passengers at a buffet.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2023

In days gone by, these men held Hypereia, a country of wide dancing grounds, but near them were overbearing Kyklopes, whose power could not be turned from pillage.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer

Related Words

• desecrate
• loot
• maraud
• pilfer
• ransack
• ravage