Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
fifth-column
noun
/ˌfɪfθ ˈkɒl.əmn/
Definition
A group of people who undermine a larger group from within, often in the context of wartime or conflict.
Examples
- During the war, there were fears that a fifth-column might sabotage the military efforts from within our own borders.
- The traitors were considered a fifth-column, acting against the community for their own gain.
Meaning
The term refers to individuals or groups that secretly support the enemy and act in ways that are damaging to the main group’s efforts.
Synonyms
- traitors
- subversives
- betrayers
- disloyalists
