noun
spoil
Goods or benefits gained through victory or power.
The victorious soldiers divide the spoils after the battle.
Etymology
The Latin word links stripping with taking possessions. Spoil names what victors strip from the defeated or otherwise gain through power.
More examples
- The winning party rewards its supporters with the spoils of office.
- The invaders carry away gold and silver as spoils.
- The allies argue over how to share the spoils of victory.
Forms
spoil · spoils