spoliation
Americannoun
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the act or an instance of plundering or despoiling.
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authorized plundering of neutrals at sea in time of war.
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Law. the destruction or material alteration of a bill of exchange, will, or the like.
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the act of spoiling or damaging something.
noun
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the act or an instance of despoiling or plundering
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the authorized seizure or plundering of neutral vessels on the seas by a belligerent state in time of war
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law the material alteration of a document so as to render it invalid
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English ecclesiastical law the taking of the fruits of a benefice by a person not entitled to them
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of spoliation
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin spoliātiōn- (stem of spoliātiō ), equivalent to spoliāt ( us ) (past participle of spoliāre to spoil; see -ate 1) + -iōn- -ion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The report into the painting was from the Spoliation Advisory Panel - a body of judges and historians that investigates claims for items stolen by the Nazis.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2023
The Spoliation Advisory Panel was established by the U.K. government in 2000 to resolve claims from people, or their heirs, who lost property during the Nazi era that is now held in U.K. national collections.
From New York Times • Mar. 28, 2023
The museum formally authorized the return of the 1824 work, “Beaching a Boat, Brighton,” in May 2014 at the urging of the Spoliation Advisory Panel.
From New York Times • Sep. 10, 2015
"This was reviewed by Tate. The Tate Trustees have now approached the Secretary of State to invite the Spoliation Advisory Panel to review the new information. We cannot comment further at this stage."
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2015
Spoliation, which plays so large a part in the affairs of the world, has, then, two agents only: Strength and Cunning; and two limits: Courage and Right.
From What Is Free Trade? An Adaptation of Frederic Bastiat's "Sophismes Éconimiques" Designed for the American Reader by Bastiat, Frédéric
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
