spoils

UK: /ˈspɔɪlz/

From the verb spoil: (⇒ conjugate)

spoils is: ⓘ

v 3rd person singular

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

spoils / spɔɪlz/ noun:plural

1. (sometimes singular) valuables seized by violence, esp in war
2. the rewards and benefits of public office regarded as plunder for the winning party or candidate
   See also spoils system

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

spoil /spɔɪl/   v., spoiled or spoilt/spɔɪlt/  spoil•ing, n. 
v. 

1. to (cause to) become bad or unfit for use, such as food that does not last long unless treated with cold: [no object]
   Too much moisture and heat will cause the food to spoil.
   [~ + object]
   to spoil the food.
2. to damage or harm severely; ruin:
   [~ + object] The rip spoiled the delicate fabric.
3. to affect in a bad or unfortunate way:
   [~ + object] Bad weather spoiled our vacation.
4. to treat (someone) too well, as by giving too much, and thus affect his or her character in a bad way:
   [~ + object] Don't spoil the baby by jumping up to feed her whenever she whimpers.

n. spoils [plural]

5. money, property, or goods taken in war or by robbery.

Idioms

6. Idioms be spoiling for, [~ + object] [Informal.] to be very eager for:
   They're spoiling for a fight.

spoil•age /ˈspɔɪlɪdʒ/  n. [uncountable]
spoil•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

spoil  (spoil), v., spoiled or spoilt, spoil•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to damage severely or harm (something), esp. with reference to its excellence, value, usefulness, etc.:
   The water stain spoiled the painting. Drought spoiled the corn crop.
2. to diminish or impair the quality of;
   affect detrimentally:
   Bad weather spoiled their vacation.
3. to impair, damage, or harm the character or nature of (someone) by unwise treatment, excessive indulgence, etc.:
   to spoil a child by pampering him.
4. [Archaic.] to strip (persons, places, etc.) of goods, valuables, etc.;
   plunder;
   pillage;
   despoil.
5. [Archaic.] to take or seize by force.

v.i. 

6. to become bad, or unfit for use, as food or other perishable substances;
   become tainted or putrid:
   Milk spoils if not refrigerated.
7. to plunder, pillage, or rob.
8. be spoiling for, [Informal.] to be very eager for;
   be desirous of:
   It was obvious that he was spoiling for a fight.

n. 

9. Often, spoils. booty, loot, or plunder taken in war or robbery.
10. the act of plundering.
11. an object of plundering.
12. Usually, spoils. 
    • Government the emoluments and advantages of public office viewed as won by a victorious political party:
      the spoils of office.
    • Government prizes won or treasures accumulated:
      a child's spoils brought home from a party.
13. Mining waste material, as that which is cast up in mining, excavating, quarrying, etc.
14. an imperfectly made object, damaged during the manufacturing process.

• Old French espoille, derivative of espoillier
• Latin spoliāre to despoil, equivalent. to spoli(um) booty + -āre infinitive suffix; (noun, nominal) derivative of the verb, verbal or
• Old French espoillier
• (verb, verbal) Middle English spoilen 1300–50

spoil′a•ble, adj. 
spoil′less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. disfigure, destroy, demolish, mar.
  Spoil, ruin, wreck agree in meaning to reduce the value, quality, usefulness, etc., of anything.
  Spoil is the general term:
  to spoil a delicate fabric.
  Ruin implies doing completely destructive or irreparable injury:
  to ruin one's health.
  Wreck implies a violent breaking up or demolition:
  to wreck oneself with drink; to wreck a building.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

spoil / spɔɪl/ verb (spoils, spoiling, spoilt, spoiled)

1. (transitive) to cause damage to (something), in regard to its value, beauty, usefulness, etc
2. (transitive) to weaken the character of (a child) by complying unrestrainedly with its desires
3. (transitive) to treat (someone) with great kindness and generosity
4. (intransitive) (of perishable substances) to become unfit for consumption or use
5. (intransitive) to disrupt the play or style of one's opponents, as to prevent them from settling into a rhythm
6. to strip (a person or place) of (property or goods) by force or violence
7. be spoiling for ⇒ to have an aggressive desire for (a fight, etc)

noun

1. waste material thrown up by an excavation
2. any treasure accumulated by a person
3. the act of plundering

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French espoillier, from Latin spoliāre to strip, from spolium booty