World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesFifth column
/ˌfɪfθ ˈkɒl.əm/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A clandestine group or faction of subversive sympathizers who operate within a nation or organization to secretly aid an enemy force.
"Counterintelligence units worked tirelessly to uncover a suspected fifth column operating within the government." - 2
Any group of people who clandestinely undermine a larger group, such as a nation or political party, from within.
"The corporate leadership worried that a disgruntled faction inside the engineering department might act as a fifth column for their chief rival."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Originating during the Spanish Civil War around 1936, the term was coined by Nationalist General Emilio Mola, who stated that while his four columns of troops were attacking Madrid, a 'fifth column' of hidden sympathizers inside the city would rise up to aid them. The expression quickly entered international journalism and political lexicon to denote any clandestine group acting as subversives within a nation.
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10 Global Lexicons: How "Fifth column" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
cinquième colonne
Transliteration: sẽk.jɛm kɔ.lɔn
"Le gouvernement craignait l'action d'une cinquième colonne pendant la guerre."
fünfte Kolonne
Transliteration: fʏnf.tə koˈlɔ.nə
"Man befürchtete die Bildung einer fünften Kolonne im eigenen Land."
quinta colonna
Transliteration: ˈkwin.ta koˈlɔn.na
"I servizi segreti cercavano i membri della quinta colonna."
quinta columna
Transliteration: ˈkin.ta koˈlum.na
"Se sospechaba que había una quinta columna operando en la capital."
quinta-coluna
Transliteration: ˈkĩ.tɐ koˈlu.nɐ
"O movimento foi enfraquecido pela acção de uma quinta-coluna."
गुप्त शत्रु दल
Transliteration: gupta shatru dal
"सरकार ने देश के भीतर छिपे गुप्त शत्रु दल का पर्दाफाश किया।"
第五纵队
Transliteration: dì wǔ zòng duì
"反间谍机构一直在搜捕隐藏在内部的第五纵队。"
제5열
Transliteration: je-o-yeol
"정부는 국가 내부의 제5열 세력을 경계했다."
第5列
Transliteration: dai go retsu
"その国には敵に内通する第5列が潜んでいると噂された。"
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Not producing or containing venom; incapable of injecting poison through a bite, sting, or other mechanism.
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