bribe

¹bribe

noun \ˈbrīb\

Definition of BRIBE

1

: money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust

2

: something that serves to induce or influence

Examples of BRIBE

1. I offered the children a bribe for finishing their homework.
2. <that judge refused a huge bribe to dismiss the charges against the wealthy defendant>

Origin of BRIBE

Middle English, morsel given to a beggar, bribe, from Anglo-French, morsel

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to BRIBE

Synonyms

backhander [British], boodle, cumshaw, fix, sop

Related Words

baksheesh, kickback, payoff; slush fund; incentive, incitement, instigation, motivation, provocation, spur, stimulation, stimulus; boost, encouragement, goad, inducement; allurement, bait, enticement, lure, seduction, temptation, turn-on; flattery, persuasion; decoy, snare, trap

Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

Rhymes with BRIBE

gibe, jibe, kibe, scribe, tribe, vibe

²bribe

verb

bribed brib·ing

Definition of BRIBE

transitive verb

: to induce or influence by or as if by bribery

intransitive verb

: to practice bribery

— brib·able \ˈbrī-bə-bəl\ adjective

— brib·ee \ˌbrī-ˈbē\ noun

— brib·er noun

Examples of BRIBE

1. She was arrested for attempting to bribe a judge.
2. They bribed him to keep quiet about the incident.
3. We bribed the children with candy.

First Known Use of BRIBE

1528

Related to BRIBE

Synonyms

buy, corrupt, have, pay off, square, get at, grease the hand of (or grease the palm of), oil the hand of (or oil the palm of)

Related Words

fix, tamper (with); abase, debase, debauch, defile, degrade, demean, deprave, dishonor, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, taint, warp; allure, bait, beguile, entice, lead on, lure, seduce, tempt; motivate, provoke, spur, stimulate; goad, induce; flatter, persuade; snare, trap