FIFTH COLUMNIST Meaning and
Definition
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Fifth columnist, also known as a fifth columnist agent, is a term used to describe a person who engages in activities that undermine or spy on a group, organization, or country, often secretly from within. The term originated in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, when Francisco Franco's forces, supported by fascist regimes, referred to individuals loyal to the Republican government as fifth columnists, as they were seen as secretly aiding the enemy. Since then, the term has been adopted to describe individuals who collaborate with an opposing group or nation during times of conflict or war.
A fifth columnist typically works clandestinely, using subversive tactics to gather information, sabotage operations, and disrupt the efforts of the group or nation they are betraying. They may secretly provide intelligence or resources to the opposing side, compromise security measures, or propagate misinformation to confuse and weaken their own group. Fifth columnists often operate under the guise of loyalty, appearing as ordinary members of the group they are betraying while working to undermine it from within.
The term fifth columnist has evolved beyond its original military connotation and is now applied in various contexts. It is commonly used in politics, espionage, and security contexts to describe individuals who betray their own side for personal gain, ideological reasons, or due to coercion. The actions of fifth columnists can have significant consequences, as their betrayal and subversive activities can lead to the compromised safety and security of the group or nation they are secretly working against.
Common Misspellings for FIFTH COLUMNIST
- difth columnist
- cifth columnist
- vifth columnist
- gifth columnist
- tifth columnist
- rifth columnist
- fufth columnist
- fjfth columnist
- fkfth columnist
- fofth columnist
- f9fth columnist
- f8fth columnist
- fidth columnist
- ficth columnist
- fivth columnist
- figth columnist
- fitth columnist
- firth columnist
- fifrh columnist
Etymology of FIFTH COLUMNIST
The term "fifth columnist" originated during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, specifically during the siege of Madrid. It is derived from a metaphorical concept where four columns would symbolize an army's advance, with the fifth column representing a clandestine group or network working within their own society to aid the invading force.
The phrase was first used by General Emilio Mola, a Nationalist general in the Spanish Civil War, in a radio broadcast in October 1936. Mola, referring to his plan to take over Madrid, mentioned that he had four columns marching towards the city, while having a "fifth column" of sympathetic supporters within the city working to destabilize its defenses from within. Mola's use of the term caught the attention of the international press, and it soon gained widespread usage.
Idioms with the word FIFTH COLUMNIST
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fifth columnist
A "fifth columnist" is a person within a country who secretly works to undermine the government or organization from within.
Similar spelling word for FIFTH COLUMNIST
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