Bribery
/ˈbraɪbəri/
Definitions
The act of giving or offering something of value (money, goods, favors, etc.) to influence a decision or action.
/ˈbraɪbəri/
The act of giving or receiving bribes.
The police officer was arrested for accepting a bribe.
💡 Simply: Giving someone money or something else to make them do something for you that they shouldn't.
More Examples
The company was found guilty of bribery in a foreign country.
How It's Used
"The case involved allegations of bribery and corruption."
"Bribery is a serious offense that undermines democratic processes."
Idioms & expressions
on the take
Willing to accept bribes.
"The mayor was rumored to be on the take."
From Middle English *briberie, from Old French *briberie, from briber "to bribe," of uncertain origin, possibly related to Old French *brochier "to pierce, broach," suggesting the idea of piercing or entering to corrupt.
Historically, bribery has been a pervasive issue across societies, appearing in legal texts and literature from ancient times.
Memory tip
Think of 'bribe' as 'buying' influence.
Word Origin
"Possibly related to 'brochier,' meaning 'to pierce,' suggesting the idea of piercing or penetrating to corrupt."