First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1pillage
noun pil·lage \ˈpi-lij\
Definition of PILLAGE
1
: the act of looting or plundering especially in war
2
: something taken as booty
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Origin of PILLAGE
Middle English pilage, from Anglo-French, from piler to rob, plunder
2pillage
verb
: to take things from (a place, such as a city or town) by force especially during a war : to loot or plunder (a place)
pil·lagedpil·lag·ing
Full Definition of PILLAGE
transitive verb
: to plunder ruthlessly : loot
intransitive verb
: to take booty
— pil·lag·er noun
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First Known Use of PILLAGE
circa 1593
Synonym Discussion of PILLAGE
ravage, devastate, waste, sack, pillage, despoil mean to lay waste by plundering or destroying. ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction <a hurricane ravaged the coast>. devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area <an earthquake devastated the city>. waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action <years of drought had wasted the area>. sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place <barbarians sacked ancient Rome>. pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack <settlements pillaged by Vikings>. despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction <the Nazis despoiled the art museums>.
PILLAGING Defined for Kids
1pillage
noun pil·lage \ˈpi-lij\
Definition of PILLAGE for Kids
: the act of robbing by force especially during a war
2pillage
verb
pil·lagedpil·lag·ing
Definition of PILLAGE for Kids
: to rob by force especially during a war
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