corruption
noun
cor·rup·tion
kə-ˈrəp-shən 
1
a
: dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people (such as government officials or police officers) : depravity
b
: inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means (such as bribery)
the corruption of government officials
c
: a departure from the original or from what is pure or correct
the corruption of a text
the corruption of computer files
d
: decay, decomposition
the corruption of a carcass
2
chiefly dialectal
: pus
3
archaic
: an agency or influence that corrupts
Examples of corruption in a Sentence
There are rumors of widespread corruption in the city government.
the mafia's corruption of public officials
corruption of the English language
computer software that is supposed to prevent the corruption of files
the corruption of a text
Recent Examples on the Web
The indictment is remarkable in its detail, laying out a web of corruption at the highest levels of the Mexican government.
—
Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
In the weeks since the latest release of DOJ documents from the Epstein files, Rød-Larsen’s wife, Mona Juul, resigned as Norway’s Ambassador to Jordan and Iraq, and Norwegian authorities have opened corruption investigations into the two of them.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 9 May 2026
McMorris also said corruption indictments and convictions have played a significant role in City Council turnover over the last several election cycles.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 9 May 2026
Unlocking about $20 billion of EU funds for Hungary frozen during Orbán's time in office over rule-of-law and corruption concerns is among the incoming prime minister's top priorities.
—CBS News, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for corruption
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Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
In the weeks since the latest release of DOJ documents from the Epstein files, Rød-Larsen’s wife, Mona Juul, resigned as Norway’s Ambassador to Jordan and Iraq, and Norwegian authorities have opened corruption investigations into the two of them.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 9 May 2026
McMorris also said corruption indictments and convictions have played a significant role in City Council turnover over the last several election cycles.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 9 May 2026
Unlocking about $20 billion of EU funds for Hungary frozen during Orbán's time in office over rule-of-law and corruption concerns is among the incoming prime minister's top priorities.
—CBS News, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for corruption
Cite this Entry
“Corruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corruption. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
corruption
noun
cor·rup·tion
kə-ˈrəp-shən
1
: physical decay or rotting
2
: dishonest or evil behavior
3
: the causing of someone else to do wrong (as by bribery)
4
: a change from the original or for the worse
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