spoliation

American  

[spoh-lee-ey-shuhn] / ˌspoʊ liˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of plundering or despoiling.

2. authorized plundering of neutrals at sea in time of war.

3. Law. the destruction or material alteration of a bill of exchange, will, or the like.

4. the act of spoiling or damaging something.

---

spoliation British  

/ ˌspəʊlɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of despoiling or plundering

2. the authorized seizure or plundering of neutral vessels on the seas by a belligerent state in time of war

3. law the material alteration of a document so as to render it invalid

4. English ecclesiastical law the taking of the fruits of a benefice by a person not entitled to them

---

Other Word Forms

• spoliatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of spoliation

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin spoliātiōn- (stem of spoliātiō ), equivalent to spoliāt ( us ) (past participle of spoliāre to spoil; -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

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

“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

City Attorney Ann Davison’s office responded with court filings of its own this week, accusing some of the plaintiffs of spoliation themselves by deleting their own texts about CHOP.

From Seattle Times

A week after the spoliation motion, on April 25, the city and Marigold filed to settle the case.

From Seattle Times

Secondly, STP challenged a ruling by Murphy that it committed “spoliation” by losing crucial pieces of damaged pipe and a tunneling superintendent’s journal.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• contagion
• corruption
• disease
• epidemic
• infection
• poisoning
• pollution