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.
Tate director Maria Balshaw said it was "a profound privilege to help reunite this work with its rightful heirs" and that she was "delighted to see the spoliation process working successfully to make this happen".
From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2025
“The City’s conduct cannot be excused as ‘imperfect document management;’ ... its ‘explanation’ for its admitted spoliation is unconvincing to say the least.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2024
Marigold’s lawsuit also sought texts from Kaushik and Hatley via subpoenas, but the lobbyists had deleted their texts “and produced none in response to the subpoenas,” according to the spoliation motion.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 24, 2022
It also said it viewed it as the responsibility of the German government, not private collectors, to compensate the victims of Nazi spoliation for art bought legally and in good faith.
From New York Times ● Sep. 2, 2021
The resume of the work of spoliation in this number of the News was very graphic.
From The Story of the Great Fire in St. John, N.B., June 20th, 1877 by George Stewart
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