# plunder

/ˈpɫəndɝ/ (US) · /plˈʌndɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/plunder
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

to steal things from a place using force, especially during a war or a riot. It means taking everything valuable and leaving nothing behind.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They plundered of the gold." but "They plundered the gold." — Plunder is a transitive verb and does not require the preposition 'of' before the object being stolen.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.