spoliation

noun

spo·​li·​a·​tion ˌspō-lē-ˈā-shən 

1

a

: the act of plundering

b

: the state of having been plundered especially in war

2

: the act of injuring especially beyond reclaim

Examples of spoliation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An attorney who allows a client to continue using their phone risks spoliation as normal usage can overwrite or erase crucial data. —Lars Daniel, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025

That amounts to spoliation, the defense claims, and should result in the dismissal of the charges against Trump. —Perry Stein, Washington Post, 30 June 2024

The West should also prepare for a Russia that inflicts even greater spoliation on a global scale—but not drive it to do so. —Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2024

Epic filed a motion to sanction Google for alleged spoliation of evidence in October. —Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 21 Mar. 2023

The motion for spoliation sanctions is the latest move in the lawsuit by the widow of Kobe Bryant for severe emotional distress after learning that deputies and firefighters shared gruesome images of the crash scene where her husband, daughter Gianna and seven others died in January 2020. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2021

There is usually an artist somewhere at the bottom of that story of spoliation. —New York Times, 19 Apr. 2022

Members of the Isle de Jean Charles band of the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Tribe, the Pointe-au-Chien Tribe, and the Houma Nation experienced the spoliation of their current and ancestral homes. —Anya Groner, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2021

The audit's Twitter account strikes a different tone, accusing the county of deleting election databases and spoliation of evidence. —Staff Reports, The Arizona Republic, 25 Sep. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French spoliacion, Latin spoliation-, spoliatio, from spoliare to plunder — more at spoil entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for spoliation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Legal Definition

spoliation

noun

spo·​li·​a·​tion ˌspō-lē-ˈā-shən 

1

: the destruction, alteration, or mutilation of evidence especially by a party for whom the evidence is damaging

2

: alteration or mutilation of an instrument (as a will) by one who is not a party to the instrument