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
A week after the spoliation motion, on April 25, the city and Marigold filed to settle the case.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 24, 2022
There is usually an artist somewhere at the bottom of that story of spoliation.
From New York Times • Apr. 19, 2022
Other counts mentioned in the suit include negligence and negligence per see, intentional spoliation of evidence, negligent entrustment of chattel, negligent hiring, training and supervision and more.
From Fox News • Feb. 7, 2022
Horace Chase appears here as the pioneer of spoliation.
From Horace Chase by Woolson, Constance Fenimore
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.
