bribery

noun

brib·​ery ˈbrī-b(ə-)rē How to pronounce bribery (audio)
plural briberies
: the act or practice of giving or taking a bribe

Examples of bribery in a Sentence

They were arrested on charges of bribery.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Previous Supreme Court decisions established that the government's concern about corruption lessens if there isn't an opportunity for bribery. Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025 After a three-week trial in May, a 12-person jury found Casada, 64, and his former chief of staff, Cade Cothren, 38, guilty on more than a dozen counts each of public corruption charges, including fraud, bribery, theft, conspiracy and money laundering. Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Sep. 2025 The allegations come amid the ongoing fallout of felony perjury and bribery charges filed in 2023 against Tran, who is accused of paying off and coercing a witness in a separate 2011 murder case. Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025 Former Miami Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla, who was suspended from office while facing money laundering and bribery charges that were later dropped, has filed to run for mayor of Miami. Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bribery

Word History

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bribery was in 1560

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bribery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bribery. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

bribery

noun
brib·​ery ˈbrī-b(ə-)rē How to pronounce bribery (audio)
plural briberies
: the act or practice of bribing

Legal Definition

bribery

noun
brib·​ery
plural briberies
: the crime of giving or taking a bribe

More from Merriam-Webster on bribery

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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