Word
sabotage
Phoneticssab·o·tage, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsæbəˌtɑʒ/
UK/sˈæbətˌɑːʒ/
Definitions
01deliberate damage or disruption
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of damaging equipment or ruining a plan on purpose so that it fails.
n. the deliberate act of subverting, obstructing, or destroying something to prevent its success.
“The factory had to close for two days because of the sabotage of the main machines.”
“The investigation revealed that the system failure was not a technical glitch but a calculated act of industrial sabotage by a rival firm.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general concept.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02to ruin something on purpose
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to damage something or stop a process on purpose so it does not work.
v. to deliberately destroy, damage, or obstruct something, especially for political or military advantage.
“He tried to sabotage my presentation by hiding my notes before the meeting.”
“The rebels attempted to sabotage the supply lines to prevent the army from receiving fresh equipment during the winter months.”
Usage
A transitive verb that always requires a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“The uprising also claimed the lives of five Australians , two of whom were killed while sabotaging a machine gun to prevent the prisoners from using it.” “Putin told the AP in June that Russia was not waging a sabotage campaign against Europe.” Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from French sabotage.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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