saboteur

noun

sab·​o·​teur ˌsa-bə-ˈtər 

-ˈtu̇r, 

-ˈtyu̇r

: one that practices sabotage

Examples of saboteur in a Sentence

The car's tires were slashed by saboteurs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Eric Schouten, the head of aviation security group Dyami, suggested saboteurs acting on behalf of the Russian state could be to blame. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026

Punishing undersea saboteurs is further complicated by the rules of jurisdiction. — Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026

Private corporations have long worked with the federal government to help disrupt cybercriminals, but largely as contractors fulfilling a support role, not digital saboteurs handed a target. — Henry Larson, NPR, 15 Aug. 2026

But no regime, no spies, no saboteurs have yet matched the damage that America’s own president did tonight. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from saboter

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for saboteur

• amateur
• connoisseur
• kieselguhr
• monseigneur
• procureur
• retransfer
• silencer
• voyageur
• birr
• blur
• bur
• cur

Kids Definition

saboteur

noun

sab·​o·​teur ˌsab-ə-ˈtər 

-ˈt(y)u̇(ə)r

: a person who performs sabotage