corrupt

1 of 2

verb

cor·​rupt kə-ˈrəpt 

corrupted; corrupting; corrupts

transitive verb

1

a

: to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions

Officials were corrupted by greed.

was accused of corrupting the youth

also : bribe

b

: to degrade with unsound principles or moral values

Some fear the merger will corrupt the competitive marketplace.

2

: rot, spoil

The fruits were transported without being corrupted.

3

: to subject (a person) to corruption of blood

4

: to alter from the original or correct form or version

The file was corrupted.

intransitive verb

1

a

: to become tainted or rotten

leaving the bodies to corrupt on the field

b

: to become morally debased

2

: to cause disintegration or ruin

corrupter noun

or less commonly corruptor

kə-ˈrəp-tər 

corruptibility

kə-ˌrəp-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

corruptible

kə-ˈrəp-tə-bəl 

adjective

corruptibly

kə-ˈrəp-tə-blē 

adverb

corrupt

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: morally degenerate and perverted : depraved

b

: characterized by improper conduct (such as bribery or the selling of favors)

corrupt judges

2

: putrid, tainted

3

: adulterated or debased by change from an original or correct condition

a corrupt version of the text

corruptly

kə-ˈrəp(t)-lē 

adverb

corruptness

kə-ˈrəp(t)-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

Verb

• break down
• decay
• decompose
• disintegrate
• fester
• foul
• mold
• molder
• perish [chiefly British]
• putrefy
• rot
• spoil

Adjective

• debased
• debauched
• decadent
• degenerate
• degraded
• demoralized
• depraved
• dissipated
• dissolute
• jackleg
• libertine
• loose
• perverse
• perverted
• rakehell
• rakehelly
• rakish
• reprobate
• sick
• unclean
• unwholesome
• warped

Choose the Right Synonym for corrupt

Verb

debase, vitiate, deprave, corrupt, debauch, pervert mean to cause deterioration or lowering in quality or character.

debase implies a loss of position, worth, value, or dignity.

commercialism has debased the holiday

vitiate implies a destruction of purity, validity, or effectiveness by allowing entrance of a fault or defect.

a foreign policy vitiated by partisanship

deprave implies moral deterioration by evil thoughts or influences.

the claim that society is depraved by pornography

corrupt implies loss of soundness, purity, or integrity.

the belief that bureaucratese corrupts the language

debauch implies a debasing through sensual indulgence.

the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew

pervert implies a twisting or distorting from what is natural or normal.

perverted the original goals of the institute

Adjective

vicious, villainous, iniquitous, nefarious, corrupt, degenerate mean highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct.

vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence.

a vicious gangster

villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic.

a villainous assault

iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness.

an iniquitous system of taxation

nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct.

the nefarious rackets of organized crime

corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations.

city hall was rife with corrupt politicians

degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition.

a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers

Examples of corrupt in a Sentence

Verb

a politician corrupted by greed

music that corrupts the morals of children

corrupting the country's legal system

the corrupting influence of power

Their idealism has been corrupted by cynicism.

The file has been corrupted and no longer works properly.

a corrupted version of the ancient text

Adjective

The country's justice system is riddled with corrupt judges who accept bribes.

corrupt cops who sell drugs

the country's corrupt legal system

a corrupt version of the text

a corrupt computer file that no longer works properly

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Although Harvard is an institution that has been corrupted by politics and would be well served to voluntarily adopt most of Trump’s demands on it, the university has a good shot at prevailing in a legal fight on the grounds that Trump failed to follow the necessary statutory process. —The Editors, National Review, 29 Apr. 2025

And the disease was a politics that was corrupted by the most powerful in our society: billionaires and oligarchs and corporate CEOs. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025

Adjective

Taking away a tool that saves millions of Americans money to boost the tax prep industry's profits is another corrupt giveaway to Big Business. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025

By the end of the finale episode, Kingpin has essentially taken control of the entire city and the Punisher is kidnapped by the corrupt police but Daredevil is assembling his own army to combat the tyrant. —Skyler Trepel, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Latin corruptus, past participle of corrumpere, from com- + rumpere to break — more at reave

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin corruptus — see corrupt entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

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

Adjective

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

Rhymes for corrupt

• abrupt
• disrupt
• erupt
• cupped
• supped
• upped
• interrupt

Kids Definition

corrupt

1 of 2 verb

cor·​rupt kə-ˈrəpt 

1

: to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions

especially : to influence a public official improperly

2

: rot entry 1 sense 1a, spoil

3

: to change from the original or correct form or version

corrupt a text

4

: to become debased

corrupter noun

also corruptor

-ˈrəp-tər 

corrupt

2 of 2 adjective

1

: morally corrupted : depraved

2

: characterized by improper conduct

a corrupt government

corruptly

-ˈrəp(t)-lē 

adverb

corruptness

-ˈrəp(t)-nəs 

noun

Etymology

Verb

Middle English corrupten "change from good to bad, corrupt," from Latin corruptus "corrupted," from corrumpere "to corrupt," from cor-, com- "with" and rumpere "to break" — related to abrupt, rupture

Legal Definition

corrupt

1 of 2 adjective

cor·​rupt

kə-ˈrəpt

: having an unlawful or evil motive

especially : characterized by improper and usually unlawful conduct intended to secure a benefit for oneself or another (as by taking or giving bribes)

corruptly adjective

corruptness noun

corrupt

2 of 2 transitive verb

1

: to change from good to bad in principles or moral values

corrupting a minor

2

: to subject (a person) to corruption of blood

corruptibility

kə-ˌrəp-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

corruptible

kə-ˈrəp-tə-bəl 

adjective

corruptibly adverb

corruption

kə-ˈrəp-shən 

noun