fifth column
Sign in to savegroup of people who undermine a larger group
AI overview
A fifth column is a group of people working within a larger organization or country to secretly undermine it from the inside, often by sabotage or betrayal. It matters because it represents a hidden threat that can weaken institutions or nations by exploiting trust from within rather than attacking from outside.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
1941 World War II poster from the United States denouncing fifth columnists
A fifth column (or internal enemy) is a group of people who undermine a larger group or nation from within, usually in favor of an enemy group or another nation. The activities of a fifth column can be overt or clandestine. Forces gathered in secret can mobilize openly to assist an external attack. The term is also applied to organized actions by military personnel. Clandestine fifth column activities can involve acts of sabotage, disinformation, espionage or terrorism executed within defense lines by secret sympathizers with an external force.