Fifth Column (Noun)
Meaning
A subversive group that supports the enemy and engages in espionage or sabotage; an enemy in your midst.
Classification
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects.
Examples
- The government suspected that there was a fifth column operating within the city, secretly working to undermine their efforts for peace.
- During times of war, identifying and eliminating a potential fifth column within your own ranks can be just as crucial as defeating the enemy on the battlefield.
- The accused was labeled a member of a fifth column and accused of passing sensitive information to the enemy, posing a significant threat to national security.
- Historians believe that the presence of a fifth column significantly contributed to the fall of the city, weakening its defenses and creating opportunities for the enemy to attack.
- A fifth column operating in the heart of the organization was secretly gathering intel, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and cause maximum damage.