To plunder means to steal goods by force, usually during war, a riot, or chaos. When an army plunders a conquered city, soldiers take valuables like gold, food, and treasure. Pirates plundered merchant ships on the high seas, seizing cargo and anything worth selling. Rioters might plunder stores during civil unrest, smashing windows and grabbing whatever they can carry.

The word suggests violence and greed rather than sneaky theft. A burglar might quietly rob a house, but plundering involves more aggression and less caution. Vikings plundered coastal villages across Europe. Spanish conquistadors plundered gold and silver from civilizations in the Americas.

Plunder can also be used as a noun meaning the stolen goods themselves: “The thieves divided up their plunder” or “The museum returned plunder taken during the war.”

The word carries a sense of destruction and disrespect. Plunderers don't just take things; they often wreck what they can't carry and show no regard for the people they're stealing from. Throughout history, armies that plundered cities left devastation behind, which is why plundering has long been considered a war crime under international law.