sabotage

[ sab-uh-tahzh, sab-uh-tahzh ]
See synonyms for sabotage on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. any underhand interference with production, work, etc., in a plant, factory, etc., as by enemy agents during wartime or by employees during a trade dispute.

  2. any undermining of a cause.

verb (used with object),sab·o·taged, sab·o·tag·ing.
  1. to injure or attack by sabotage.

Origin of sabotage

1
First recorded in 1865–70; from French, from sabot(er) “to botch,” originally, “to harry, shake up, strike” (verb derivative of sabot sabot ) + -age -age

Other words for sabotage

Other words from sabotage

  • un·sab·o·taged, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for sabotage

sabotage

/ (ˈsæbəˌtɑːʒ) /


noun
  1. the deliberate destruction, disruption, or damage of equipment, a public service, etc, as by enemy agents, dissatisfied employees, etc

  2. any similar action or behaviour

verb
  1. (tr) to destroy, damage, or disrupt, esp by secret means

Origin of sabotage

1
C20: from French, from saboter to spoil through clumsiness (literally: to clatter in sabots)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012