spoils
Britishplural noun
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(sometimes singular) valuables seized by violence, esp in war
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the rewards and benefits of public office regarded as plunder for the winning party or candidate See also spoils system
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 potential spoils from prediction markets haven’t done much to help DraftKings.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026
Carter’s administration instituted the most sweeping reforms of the civil service since 1883’s Pendleton Act, which replaced the spoils system and created a professional, merit-based system.
From Salon • Feb. 15, 2026
While households across the income spectrum are expected to benefit, the spoils won’t be shared equally, experts say.
From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026
And ex-Nigeria midfielder Jon Obi Mikel said the miss "spoils everything Brahim Diaz has done well in this tournament".
From BBC • Jan. 18, 2026
Slowly, greedily, father and daughter came forward to inspect their spoils.
From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger
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.
