/spoh'lee ay"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the act or an instance of plundering or despoiling.
2. authorized plundering of neutrals at sea in time of war.
3. Law. the destruction or material alteration of a bill of exchange, will, or the like.
4. the act of spoiling or damaging something.
[ 1350-1400; ME spoliation- (s. of spoliatio ), equiv. to spoliat ( us ) (ptp. of spoliare to SPOIL; see -ATE 1 ) + -ion- -ION ]