sabotage
n. C / Un. the act of damaging something on purpose to stop it from working or to hurt an enemy. It is often done in secret to ruin a plan or a machine.
n. deliberate destruction, disruption, or damage of equipment or processes, typically for political or military advantage. Often involves clandestine actions intended to obstruct a competitor or enemy.
The factory fire was a clear act of sabotage.
The investigation revealed that the software crash was not an accident but deliberate sabotage by a former employee.
Historians argue that the resistance movement's consistent sabotage of the railway lines was more effective at demoralising the occupying forces than any direct confrontation in the field.
Unadapted borrowing from French sabotage.
Uncountable when referring to the general activity; countable when referring to a specific instance or act.