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Despoliation: meaning, definitions and examples

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despoliation

 

[ dɪˌspəʊlɪˈeɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

legal term

Despoliation refers to the act of stripping away or removing something valuable, often in a context where it is unjustly taken or deprived from a rightful owner. This term is frequently used in legal contexts to describe the wrongful actions leading to the loss of property or rights.

Synonyms

deprivation, looting, plunder, theft

Examples of usage

  • The despoliation of cultural artifacts is a serious concern for museums.
  • The legal team filed a suit for despoliation against the company.
  • The despoliation of natural resources has led to environmental concerns.
  • Historical records document various instances of despoliation throughout wars.

Translations

Translations of the word "despoliation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 despojo

🇮🇳 लूट

🇩🇪 Raub

🇮🇩 perampasan

🇺🇦 грабіж

🇵🇱 rabunek

🇯🇵 略奪

🇫🇷 despoillement

🇪🇸 despojo

🇹🇷 yağma

🇰🇷 약탈

🇸🇦 نهب

🇨🇿 zbavení

🇸🇰 zbavenie

🇨🇳 掠夺

🇸🇮 plenjenje

🇮🇸 rán

🇰🇿 талан

🇬🇪 გატაცება

🇦🇿 yağma

🇲🇽 despojo

Etymology

The word 'despoliation' comes from the Latin term 'despoliare', which means 'to strip of plunder or property'. The Latin root is composed of 'de-', indicating removal, and 'spoliare', which means 'to plunder' or 'to take'. This concept dates back to ancient times, where acts of despoliation were commonly associated with conflict and warfare. Historically, the term has evolved to encompass various forms of wrongful deprivation, particularly in legal settings, broadening its use beyond physical plunder to include metaphorical theft of rights and properties. Throughout history, despoliation has been a notable theme in discussions relating to warfare, colonialism, and property rights, illustrating the ongoing struggles over ownership and justice.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,119, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.