Spoliation

Spoliation is an English word, which first appeared in late Middle English, derived from the Latin verb spoliare ("strip", "deprive") and noun spoliatio. The word is closely related to the English word spoil. Spoliation may refer to:

• The act of destroying an object or multiple objects without a good reason^[1][2]

• The act of taking goods or property from somewhere violently, sometimes known as looting^[1][2]

• The authorized looting or takeover of neutral ships by a warring state^[1][2]

• Spoliation of evidence, referring to the "intentional, reckless, or negligent withholding, hiding, altering, fabricating, or destroying of evidence relevant to a legal proceeding"^[3]

• The deconstruction of buildings for spolia – removing stones from old buildings for new construction

• The taking of the fruits of a benefice (a permanent Church officer)^[4] by someone not supposed to have them^[1]