to the victor belong the spoils
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: the spoils belong to the victor
Meaning · English
The winner of a conflict gains additional benefits, beyond the subject of the conflict.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “to the victor belong the spoils” mean?
The winner of a conflict gains additional benefits, beyond the subject of the conflict.
Is “to the victor belong the spoils” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.