sabotage

/ˈsæ.bəˌtɑːʒ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: sabotages · sabotaging · sabotaged

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A deliberate action aimed at weakening someone (or something, a nation, etc) or preventing them from being successful, through subversion, obstruction, disruption, and/or destruction.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

To deliberately destroy or damage something in order to prevent it from being successful.

Verb

Examples

The railway line had been sabotaged by enemy commandos.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “sabotage” mean?

A deliberate action aimed at weakening someone (or something, a nation, etc) or preventing them from being successful, through subversion, obstruction, disruption, and/or destruction.

Is “sabotage” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.