Meaning of sabotage In English

• 0 to damage or destroy equipment, weapons, or buildings in order to prevent the success of an enemy or competitor:

  • The rebels had tried to sabotage the oil pipeline.

  • This was a deliberate attempt to sabotage the ceasefire.

• 1 the act of damaging or destroying equipment, weapons, or buildings in order to prevent the success of an enemy or competitor:

  • a campaign of industrial sabotage

  • The sabotage of 20 oil pipelines threatens a new surge in fuel prices.

  • They moved quickly to prevent further sabotage of their investigation.

  • He could face sabotage from officials who fear they might suffer redundancy.

• 2 to intentionally damage or destroy property:

  • Enemy agents had sabotaged the bridge.

  • fig. The bombing was meant to sabotage the peace talks.

• 3 to intentionally damage or destroy something, for example equipment or a system, that belongs to someone else, so that it cannot be used:

  • He claims the animal rights group sabotaged their vehicles and trailers.

• 4 to intentionally do something that stops someone from achieving what they want or stops something from developing as it should:

  • At that time the western aid programs were believed to be attempts to sabotage the Russian economy.

• 5 damage done intentionally to something, for example equipment or a system, that belongs to someone else, so that it cannot be used:

  • The oil giant said it averaged 221 oil spills in recent years, because of aging equipment and sabotage.

  • industrial/economic sabotage

• 6 the act of intentionally trying to stop someone from achieving something or to stop something from developing:

  • To prevent further sabotage of their fraud investigation, FBI agents moved quickly.