1
: money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust
police officers accused of taking bribes
2
: something that serves to induce or influence
offered the kid a bribe to finish his homework
bribed; bribing
: to influence the judgment or conduct of (someone) with or as if with offers of money or favor : to induce or influence by or as if by bribery
attempting to bribe a judge
bribing a child with candy
: to practice bribery
Examples of bribe in a Sentence
Noun
I offered the children a bribe for finishing their homework.
that judge refused a huge bribe to dismiss the charges against the wealthy defendant
Verb
She was arrested for attempting to bribe a judge.
They bribed him to keep quiet about the incident.
We bribed the children with candy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
In June 2024, the justices ruled that the $13,000 payment Snyder received over a garbage truck contract was a gratuity, not a bribe, because the payment came after the contract and not before.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2026
The indictment alleges the Sansons sought to bribe an Antioch City Council member to place the project on a City Council agenda and secure a favorable vote on a 533-home subdivision.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bribe
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Noun
After an investigation that lasted months, fuelled by eight whistle-blowers on his own staff, the legislators concluded that Paxton had taken bribes from a real-estate developer, improperly fired aides who reported his conduct, and obstructed justice.
—Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
In June 2024, the justices ruled that the $13,000 payment Snyder received over a garbage truck contract was a gratuity, not a bribe, because the payment came after the contract and not before.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
Kissing Is The Easy Part, meanwhile, follows a romance that blossom after a perfect student is bribed to tutor a rebellious wild child.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2026
The indictment alleges the Sansons sought to bribe an Antioch City Council member to place the project on a City Council agenda and secure a favorable vote on a 533-home subdivision.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bribe
Cite this Entry
“Bribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bribe. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bribe
1 of 2 noun
: something given or promised to a person in order to influence a decision or action dishonestly
bribe
2 of 2 verb
bribed; bribing
: to influence or try to influence by a bribe
briber
noun
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