What does spoil mean?
Spoil is a versatile verb meaning to damage, diminish, or render something less valuable. It is used for physical destruction, such as food spoiling or weather spoiling a journey, as well as for emotional and social effects: bad news can spoil someone's day, and excessive praise can spoil a child. The word also means to deprive someone of an expected right or opportunity. As a noun, spoil is generally used in the plural, spoils, for loot or plunder and, more commonly in modern English, for the advantages or rewards connected with an activity. Its strong associations with loss and waste make it especially useful when describing how an otherwise good situation has been impaired, while the phrase 'spoil the fun' gives it a familiar, mildly playful tone.
To damage, impair, diminish, or deprive something of its value; also, to become unfit for use through deterioration.
"The delay spoiled their plans for the evening."
The word can be transitive, as in 'the rain spoiled the picnic,' or intransitive, as in 'the fruit will spoil in the heat.'
Loot or plunder, or benefits and advantages obtained from a particular activity or situation.
"The explorers returned with the spoils of the expedition."
The established noun forms are almost always plural: 'spoils.'
The plural is standard and is normally used for plunder, captured possessions, or the advantages gained from an activity.
"The team celebrated its victory and the spoils that came with it."
The word spoil can mean to ruin a moment, but its plural, spoils, can mean the greatest treasure of all: a child's affection.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does spoil come from?
Spoil developed in Middle English from Old French espoiller, meaning to strip or plunder. The Old French word was influenced by Medieval Latin expoliare, from Latin ex- meaning 'out of' and spolium, meaning 'spoils' or 'plunder'. The same Latin root underlies spoliate, spoliation, and related words.
Related word forms
How spoil is actually used
The verb is common in both formal and informal English. Its negative connotation is strong when describing damage or deprivation, while the phrase 'spoil the fun' or 'spoil the mood' is often playful or lighthearted. The noun is usually plural in its established senses.
Easily confused with spoil
As a verb, spoil means to damage, diminish, or deprive; as a noun, the plural spoils usually means loot, plunder, or advantages gained from something.