corruption

noun

cor·​rup·​tion kə-ˈrəp-shən How to pronounce corruption (audio)
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 fear of government corruption is also no surprise—this concern has topped the university’s list every year since 2015. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2024 Freedom Way directed by Afolabi Olalekan Nigeria A ride-sharing app is exactly what chaotic Lagos needs, but both the young engineers who set it up and the customers who depend on it have to deal with corruption, police violence and extortion. Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Oct. 2024 These recent news stories seem to suggest a culture of corruption in Orange County that cannot go ignored. Tri Ta, Orange County Register, 24 Oct. 2024 Economic development is deeply intertwined with human factors—such as corruption, weak institutions, values, ideologies, and entrenched inequality—that AI alone cannot address. Emil Sayegh, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for corruption 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'corruption.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see corrupt entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of corruption was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near corruption

Cite this Entry

“Corruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corruption. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

corruption

noun
cor·​rup·​tion kə-ˈrəp-shən How to pronounce corruption (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on corruption

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