Meanings
alternative to the victor go the spoils · alternative the spoils belong to the victor · alternative to the victor the spoils · alternative the victor gets the spoils
Origin
* "It may be, sir, that the politicians of the United States...see nothing wrong in the rule, that to the victor belong the spoils of the enemy." Senator William Learned Marcy, remarks in the Senate, January 25, 1832.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish voittaja saa kaiken
- voittaja saa kaikenwinner gains additional benefits
Japanese 勝利者に略奪品を行きます
- 勝利者に略奪品を行きます (shōri-sha ni ryakudatsuhin wo ikimasu)winner gains additional benefits
Polish łupy należą do zwycięzcy
- łupy należą do zwycięzcywinner gains additional benefits
Portuguese ao vencedor, os despojos
- ao vencedor, os despojoswinner gains additional benefits
Turkish kazanan hepsini alır, kazanan bütün ödülü alır
- kazanan hepsini alırwinner gains additional benefits
- kazanan bütün ödülü alırwinner gains additional benefits
Cite this entry
to the victor belong the spoils. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/to%20the%20victor%20belong%20the%20spoils
“to the victor belong the spoils.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/to%20the%20victor%20belong%20the%20spoils. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “to the victor belong the spoils,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/to%20the%20victor%20belong%20the%20spoils.
Source: to the victor belong the spoils on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.