Loot vs. Sack — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 16, 2024
Loot generally refers to goods stolen during warfare or riots, often associated with chaos, while sack refers specifically to the act of pillaging or plundering a town or city, often systematically and during war.
Difference Between Loot and Sack
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Loot is typically used to describe goods stolen during incidents of chaos, such as war or riots, indicating items taken forcibly from their rightful owners. On the other hand, sack is used more specifically to describe the act of looting or plundering a town or city, often in a thorough and systematic manner during conflicts or wars.
Loot can be both a noun and a verb, referring to the items stolen and the act of stealing them, respectively. Whereas sack is primarily a verb in this context, focusing on the destructive and violent aspect of the pillaging process.
The term loot is associated with smaller scale or individual acts of theft and can be spontaneous. Conversely, sack implies a larger scale and organized effort, typically involving a group and often under military conduct.
Loot does not inherently imply the complete destruction or downfall of a place, focusing more on the theft of valuables. However, sack often carries a connotation of widespread destruction and the end of the sacked place as a functioning entity.
The origin of the word loot comes from the Hindi word "lut," which means to rob or plunder, reflecting its roots in historical colonial contexts. In contrast, sack derives from the Latin "saccus," referring to the sack used to carry spoils, but its usage evolved in English to mean the act of pillaging.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Goods stolen during incidents like wars or riots
Act of pillaging a city during war
Usage as a Part of Speech
Can be both a noun and a verb
Primarily used as a verb
Scale of Action
Can refer to individual acts of theft
Implies organized, large-scale plundering
Associated Connotations
Chaos, opportunistic theft
Systematic, often follows military conquest
Origin of the Word
From Hindi "lut," meaning to rob or plunder
From Latin "saccus," relating to a type of bag
Compare with Definitions
Loot
To steal goods in times of disorder.
The soldiers began to loot the abandoned houses.
Sack
To plunder a city as an act of war.
The army was known to sack cities it conquered.
Loot
Goods taken by force during a disturbance.
During the riot, the looters grabbed any loot they could find.
Sack
The result of pillaging systematically.
The historical documents detail how the sack of the city unfolded.
Loot
To engage in stealing during chaos.
They were arrested for looting during the blackout.
Sack
To remove valuables from a place systematically.
They sacked the ancient temple of all its artifacts.
Loot
Items gathered during looting.
The police recovered the loot from the hidden warehouse.
Sack
The process of destroying or depleting a place.
After the sack, the city was left in ruins.
Loot
The act of looting.
The aftermath of the earthquake saw widespread looting.
Sack
Historical instances of plunder.
The sack of Constantinople marked a significant event in history.
Loot
Private property taken from an enemy in war
The rooms were stuffed with the loot from Francis's expeditions into Italy
Sack
A large bag made of a strong material such as hessian, thick paper, or plastic, used for storing and carrying goods.
Loot
Steal goods from (a place), typically during a war or riot
Police confronted the protestors who were looting shops
Sack
A woman's short loose unwaisted dress, typically narrowing at the hem, popular especially in the 1950s.
Loot
Valuables pillaged in time of war; spoils.
Sack
Dismissal from employment
They were given the sack
He got the sack for swearing
Loot
Stolen goods or money.
Sack
Bed, especially as regarded as a place for sex.
Loot
(Informal) Things of value, such as gifts, received.
Sack
A base.
Loot
(Slang) Money.
Sack
An act of tackling of a quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.
Loot
To take goods from (a place) by force or without right, especially in time of war or lawlessness; plunder
The rebels looted the city. Rioters looted the downtown stores.
Sack
The pillaging of a town or city
The sack of Rome
Loot
To take by force or without right; steal
Broke into the tomb and looted the grave goods.
Sack
A dry white wine formerly imported into Britain from Spain and the Canaries.
Loot
To take goods by force or through lawless behavior.
Sack
Dismiss from employment
Any official found to be involved would be sacked on the spot
Loot
A scoop used to remove scum from brine pans in saltworks.
Sack
Tackle (a quarterback) behind the line of scrimmage
Oregon intercepted five of his passes and sacked him five times
Loot
Synonym of booty, goods seized from an enemy by violence, particularly (historical) during the sacking of a town in war or (video games) after successful combat.
The loot from the sack of Constantinople included the head of John the Baptist.
Sack
Put into a sack or sacks
A small part of his wheat had been sacked
Loot
Synonym of sack, the plundering of a city, particularly during war.
He consented to the loot of the city by the men under his command.
Sack
(chiefly in historical contexts) plunder and destroy (a captured town or building)
The fort was rebuilt in AD 158 and was sacked again in AD 197
Loot
Any valuable thing received for free, especially Christmas presents.
Sack
A bag, especially one made of strong material for holding grain or objects in bulk.
Loot
(slang) money.
Sack
The amount that a sack can hold
Sold two sacks of rice.
Loot
Clipping of lieutenant
Sack
Also sacque A short loose-fitting garment for women and children.
Loot
(transitive) plunder, to seize by violence particularly during the capture of a city during war or (video games) after successful combat.
We looted the temple and the orphanage, which turned most of the NPCs against us.
Sack
(Slang) Dismissal from employment
Finally got the sack after a year of ineptitude.
Loot
Synonym of rob, to steal something from someone by violence or threat of violence.
Sack
(Informal) A bed, mattress, or sleeping bag
Hit the sack at 10:00.
Loot
The act of plundering.
Sack
(Baseball) A base.
Loot
Plunder; booty; especially, the booty taken in a conquered or sacked city.
Sack
(Football) A successful attempt at sacking the quarterback.
Loot
Anything stolen or obtained by dishonesty.
Sack
The looting or pillaging of a captured city or town.
Loot
Valuable objects; as, the child was delighted with all the loot he got for his birthday.
Sack
Any of various light, dry, strong wines from Spain and the Canary Islands, imported to England in the 1500s and 1600s.
Loot
Money; as, you shouldn't carry all that loot around with you in the city; she made a pile of loot from trading in cattle futures.
Sack
To place into a sack
Sacked the groceries.
Loot
To plunder; to carry off as plunder or a prize lawfully obtained by war.
Looting parties . . . ransacking the houses.
Sack
(Slang) To discharge from employment
Sacked the workers who were caught embezzling.
Loot
Goods or money obtained illegally
Sack
(Football) To tackle (a quarterback attempting to pass the ball) behind the line of scrimmage.
Loot
Informal terms for money
Sack
To rob (a town, for example) of goods or valuables, especially after capture.
Loot
Take illegally; of intellectual property;
This writer plundered from famous authors
Sack
A bag; especially a large bag of strong, coarse material for storage and handling of various commodities, such as potatoes, coal, coffee; or, a bag with handles used at a supermarket, a grocery sack; or, a small bag for small items, a satchel.
Loot
Steal goods; take as spoils;
During the earthquake people looted the stores that were deserted by their owners
Sack
The amount a sack holds; also, an archaic or historical measure of varying capacity, depending on commodity type and according to local usage; an old English measure of weight, usually of wool, equal to 13 stone (182 pounds), or in other sources, 26 stone (364 pounds).
Sack
(uncountable) The plunder and pillaging of a captured town or city.
The sack of Rome
Sack
(uncountable) Loot or booty obtained by pillage.
Sack
(American football) A successful tackle of the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. See verb sense4 below.
Sack
(baseball) One of the square bases anchored at first base, second base, or third base.
He twisted his ankle sliding into the sack at second.
Sack
(informal) Dismissal from employment, or discharge from a position, usually as give (someone) the sack or get the sack. See verb sense5 below.
The boss is gonna give her the sack today.
He got the sack for being late all the time.
Sack
Bed (either literally or figuratively); usually as hit the sack or in the sack. See also sack out.
Sack
(dated) (also sacque) A kind of loose-fitting gown or dress with sleeves which hangs from the shoulders, such as a gown with a Watteau back or sack-back, fashionable in the late 17th to 18th century; or, formerly, a loose-fitting hip-length jacket, cloak or cape.
Sack
(dated) A sack coat; a kind of coat worn by men, and extending from top to bottom without a cross seam.
Sack
The scrotum.
He got passed the ball, but it hit him in the sack.
Sack
(dated) A variety of light-colored dry wine from Spain or the Canary Islands; also, any strong white wine from southern Europe; sherry.
Sack
Alternative spelling of sac
Sack
To put in a sack or sacks.
Help me sack the groceries.
Sack
To bear or carry in a sack upon the back or the shoulders.
Sack
To plunder or pillage, especially after capture; to obtain spoils of war from.
The barbarians sacked Rome in 410 CE.
Sack
(American football) To tackle the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage, especially before he is able to throw a pass.
Sack
To discharge from a job or position; to fire.
He was sacked last September.
Sack
A name formerly given to various dry Spanish wines.
Sack
A bag for holding and carrying goods of any kind; a receptacle made of some kind of pliable material, as cloth, leather, and the like; a large pouch.
Sack
A measure of varying capacity, according to local usage and the substance. The American sack of salt is 215 pounds; the sack of wheat, two bushels.
Sack
Originally, a loosely hanging garment for women, worn like a cloak about the shoulders, and serving as a decorative appendage to the gown; now, an outer garment with sleeves, worn by women; as, a dressing sack.
Sack
A sack coat; a kind of coat worn by men, and extending from top to bottom without a cross seam.
Sack
See 2d Sac, 2.
Sack
Bed.
Sack
The pillage or plunder, as of a town or city; the storm and plunder of a town; devastation; ravage.
The town was stormed, and delivered up to sack, - by which phrase is to be understood the perpetration of all those outrages which the ruthless code of war allowed, in that age, on the persons and property of the defenseless inhabitants, without regard to sex or age.
Sack
To put in a sack; to bag; as, to sack corn.
Bolsters sacked in cloth, blue and crimson.
Sack
To bear or carry in a sack upon the back or the shoulders.
Sack
To plunder or pillage, as a town or city; to devastate; to ravage.
The Romans lay under the apprehensions of seeing their city sacked by a barbarous enemy.
Sack
A bag made of paper or plastic for holding customer's purchases
Sack
An enclosed space;
The trapped miners found a pocket of air
Sack
The quantity contained in a sack
Sack
Any of various light dry strong white wine from Spain and Canary Islands (including sherry)
Sack
A woman's full loose hiplength jacket
Sack
A hanging bed of canvas or rope netting (usually suspended between two trees); swing easily
Sack
A loose-fitting dress hanging straight from the shoulders without a waist
Sack
The plundering of a place by an army or mob; usually involves destruction and slaughter;
The sack of Rome
Sack
The termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart)
Sack
Plunder (a town) after capture;
The barbarians sacked Rome
Sack
Terminate the employment of;
The boss fired his secretary today
The company terminated 25% of its workers
Sack
Make as a net profit;
The company cleared $1 million
Sack
Put in a sack;
The grocer sacked the onions
Common Curiosities
What are examples of historical sacks?
Historical examples include the sack of Rome in 410 A.D. and the sack of Constantinople in 1453 A.D.
Is "sack" always related to war?
Yes, in this context, sack typically involves war or military conquest.
What type of goods are considered loot?
Loot can include any valuable items, from electronics to jewelry, taken during disturbances.
What does the term "sack" imply about the fate of a city?
It often implies significant destruction and the downfall or severe weakening of the city.
hat is the primary difference between loot and sack?
Loot refers to stolen goods, especially during chaos, while sack refers to the systematic pillaging of a city, often during war.
How do historical contexts influence the understanding of "loot" and "sack"?
Historical contexts highlight the severity and organized nature of sack versus the more chaotic and opportunistic looting.
Can loot and sack be used interchangeably?
Although related, they are not interchangeable; loot is more about the goods, and sack is about the act of plundering.
What motivates people to loot?
Motivations can range from opportunism in chaotic situations to outright criminal intent.
Can individuals commit a sack?
Sack usually involves a group, often an army, due to its scale and organization.
What does it mean to loot a store?
It means to illegally take goods from the store, typically in a situation of disorder.
Is looting only associated with modern incidents?
No, looting has occurred throughout history, though the term has gained prominence in modern contexts.
How does the law view looting and sacking?
Both are illegal and seen as serious crimes, particularly under international law during times of war.
Are there any literary works focusing on looting or sacking?
Yes, many historical and fictional works explore themes of looting and sacking, illustrating their impacts on societies.
What measures can be taken to prevent looting and sacking?
Effective law enforcement, stable governance, and community engagement are crucial in preventing these acts.
How does the media typically portray looting and sacking?
Media portrayals often emphasize the violence and disorder associated with looting and the historical significance of sacking events.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
