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 Menendez, a 69-year-old Democrat who is up for reelection in 2024, and his wife, Nadine, were indicted on federal bribery charges in September, following an investigation into their business dealings with three businessmen connected to Egypt's government. Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 15 Nov. 2023 Menendez was indicted in September on bribery charges in connection with New Jersey businessmen and the Egyptian government. Jenny Goldsberry, Washington Examiner, 11 Nov. 2023 The narcos have gained political allies in mayors’ offices, governors’ mansions and the executive branch, through bribery or threats. Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023 In February 2023, additional criminal charges related to political donations were announced, followed by another indictment in March related to bribery. Brandy Hadley, The Conversation, 7 Nov. 2023 The last time an expulsion occurred was in 2002, when Ohio Democrat James Traficant was removed after being convicted of 10 felony counts of racketeering, bribery and fraud. Lauren Peller, ABC News, 1 Nov. 2023 Modern expulsions James Traficant Michael Myers July 24, 2002 Oct. 2, 1980 Convicted of ten felonies Convicted of bribery Civil War expulsions These members fought for the Confederacy and were expelled for disloyalty. Joella Carman, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2023 The charges against him, including bribery, fraud and breach of trust, served as the backdrop for a wide-ranging attack on the country’s judiciary. Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2023 An article on Thursday about a Hawaii bribery scandal and its potential impact on Maui’s recovery from devastating wildfires misspelled the surname of the Maui County Auditor. New York Times, 27 Oct. 2023 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bribery was in 1560

Dictionary Entries Near bribery

Cite this Entry

“Bribery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bribery. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.

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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