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verb

pillage

PIHL-ihj

Pillage (verb) means to loot or plunder a place by force, typically during war. Example: “The invading army pillaged every village along their route.”

verb
1
To loot or plunder a place by force, typically during war.
"The invading army pillaged every village along their route."
noun
1
The act of looting, or the goods taken by looting.
"The town never recovered from the pillage of the invasion."

How to use pillage

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishViolent looting, usually in wartime.

Common pairings
pillage and plunder pillage a village

Word forms

pillaged past tense, pillages plural, pillages singular

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The invading army _____ every village along their route.

Etymology

From Old French piller, "to plunder," possibly ultimately related to Latin pilus, "hair" (via a figurative sense of stripping something bare).

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for pillage

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Frequently asked questions

What does “pillage” mean?

The word “pillage” means to loot or plunder a place by force, typically during war. In plain terms, violent looting, usually in wartime.

How do you pronounce “pillage”?

“Pillage” is pronounced PIHL-ihj (/ˈpɪl.ɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).

How do you use “pillage” in a sentence?

Here is “pillage” used in a sentence: “The invading army pillaged every village along their route.”

What part of speech is “pillage”?

Depending on how it is used, “pillage” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “pillage” come from?

The word “pillage” comes from Latin. From Old French piller, "to plunder," possibly ultimately related to Latin pilus, "hair" (via a figurative sense of stripping something bare).

How many meanings does “pillage” have?

“Pillage” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to loot or plunder a place by force, typically during war.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial