noun
Uncommon
sabotage
SA-buh-tahzh
Sabotage (noun) means a deliberate act intended to damage, weaken, or derail someone or something, usually by underhand or destructive means. Example: “Investigators suspected sabotage after the factory's main line failed twice in one week.”
noun
1
A deliberate act intended to damage, weaken, or derail someone or something, usually by underhand or destructive means.
"Investigators suspected sabotage after the factory's main line failed twice in one week."
"She accused her rival of sabotage after the presentation files went missing."
verb
1
To deliberately damage, disrupt, or undermine something so it fails.
"He was fired for sabotaging the merger negotiations."
"Someone sabotaged the printer right before the deadline."
How to use sabotage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWrecking or undermining something on purpose so it can't succeed.
Common pairings
act of sabotage
industrial sabotage
sabotage a plan
accused of sabotage
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Word forms
- Plural
- sabotages
- Third person singular
- sabotages
- Past tense
- sabotaged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Investigators suspected _____ after the factory's main line failed twice in one week.
Etymology
Borrowed directly from French sabotage, itself from saboter — traditionally linked to sabot, a wooden clog, from the old idea of workers wrecking machinery with their clogs.
Related words
Rhymes for sabotage
See all rhymes for sabotage →Frequently asked questions
What does “sabotage” mean?
The word “sabotage” means a deliberate act intended to damage, weaken, or derail someone or something, usually by underhand or destructive means. In plain terms, wrecking or undermining something on purpose so it can't succeed.
How do you pronounce “sabotage”?
“Sabotage” is pronounced SA-buh-tahzh (/ˈsæb.əˌtɑʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sabotage” in a sentence?
Here is “sabotage” used in a sentence: “Investigators suspected sabotage after the factory's main line failed twice in one week.”
What part of speech is “sabotage”?
Depending on how it is used, “sabotage” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sabotage” come from?
The word “sabotage” comes from French. Borrowed directly from French sabotage, itself from saboter — traditionally linked to sabot, a wooden clog, from the old idea of workers wrecking machinery with their clogs.
Is “sabotage” a common word?
“Sabotage” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sabotage” have?
“Sabotage” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a deliberate act intended to damage, weaken, or derail someone or something, usually by underhand or destructive means.
What is the difference between sabotage and vandalism?
Sabotage is a deliberate act intended to damage, weaken, or derail someone or something, usually through underhand or destructive means aimed at a specific goal, while vandalism is typically random or spiteful destruction of property without a strategic purpose. Sabotage often targets a plan, process, or organization, whereas vandalism targets physical objects for their own sake.
Is sabotage always a physical act?
No, sabotage can be physical, such as damaging machinery, or non-physical, such as spreading misinformation or deliberately undermining a project through underhand means. The key element is the deliberate intent to damage, disrupt, or derail something, regardless of the method used.
