Word
plunder
Phoneticsplun·der, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɫəndɝ/
UK/plˈʌndɐ/
Definition
v. to steal things from a place using force, especially during a war or a riot. It means taking everything valuable and leaving nothing behind.
v. to rob a place or person of goods or valuables by force, typically in a central context of warfare, rioting, or piracy. Transitive; requires a direct object representing the location or the victim.
Examples
“The soldiers began to plunder the village after the battle.”
“Historical accounts describe how the invading army would plunder every library and temple they encountered during their march.”
“The museum was forced to return several artifacts that had been plundered from royal tombs during the colonial era, sparking a debate about cultural heritage.”
Examples
simple
“The soldiers began to plunder the village after the battle.”
contextual
“Historical accounts describe how the invading army would plunder every library and temple they encountered during their march.”
complex
“The museum was forced to return several artifacts that had been plundered from royal tombs during the colonial era, sparking a debate about cultural heritage.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. While it can be used as a noun, the verbal sense is more frequent in historical and literary contexts.
Pitfall
They plundered of the gold.
They plundered the gold.
Plunder is a transitive verb and does not require the preposition 'of' before the object being stolen.
Real-World Examples
“But there is very little archaeological evidence available, given that many of the earliest Egyptian tombs were plundered and/or hastily excavated.” “British troops were also known to plunder , although the army officially discouraged the practice.” Etymology
Recorded since 1632 during the Thirty Years War, native British use since the Cromwellian Civil War. Borrowed from German plündern (“to loot”), from Middle High German, from Middle Low German plunderen, from a noun originally meaning "household goods, bedding, clothing," of obscure ultimate origin. This is first attested in medieval records, and according to Gijsseling, is therefore attested too late to be considered a substrate word. Due to the lack of obvious cognates in other languages from which it would have been loaned, it could have developed as some slang word in Lower Saxony/the Low Countries. Cognate with Dutch plunderen, West Frisian plonderje, Saterland Frisian plunnerje. Probably denominal from a word for “household goods, clothes, bedding”; compare Middle Dutch plunder, German Plunder (“stuff”), Dutch and West Frisian plunje (“clothes”). The Philippine definition originates with the Anti-Plunder Act (Republic Act No. 7080).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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