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Definition of "pillage" []

  • To rob of goods by force, especially in time of war; plunder. (verb-transitive)
  • To take as spoils. (verb-transitive)
  • To take spoils by force. (verb-intransitive)
  • The act of pillaging. (noun)
  • Something pillaged; spoils. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "pillage" in a sentence
  • "Prepare to lower the foc'sle and main pillage and plunder and put big hickeys on all the fair damsels!"
  • "Not the slightest trace is left of these nations which, born in pillage, died in blood."
  • "They knew that they were breaking the law by carrying on a game of what is called pillage or brigandage at sea; but then they thought the law was all wrong, and that it was unlawful to enforce such restrictions, or put any penalty on freedom of action."