corruption
noun
cor·rup·tion
kə-ˈrəp-shən 
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
Ukrainian leaders have recently been hit by a number of corruption scandals, which have led to the departure of Zelensky’s own deputy.
—
Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
As tensions rise between Washington and the Maduro regime, experts told Fox News Digital that Venezuela’s military may look formidable on paper but is hollowed out by years of corruption, decay and political control.
—Solly Boussidan , Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 7 Dec. 2025
But the court said Congress could restrict campaign contributions if done to prevent corruption or the appearance of corruption.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 7 Dec. 2025
The developers, mired in corruption and conspiracy, plunge ahead, of course.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for corruption
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Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
As tensions rise between Washington and the Maduro regime, experts told Fox News Digital that Venezuela’s military may look formidable on paper but is hollowed out by years of corruption, decay and political control.
—Solly Boussidan , Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 7 Dec. 2025
But the court said Congress could restrict campaign contributions if done to prevent corruption or the appearance of corruption.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 7 Dec. 2025
The developers, mired in corruption and conspiracy, plunge ahead, of course.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for corruption
Cite this Entry
“Corruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corruption. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
corruption
noun
cor·rup·tion
kə-ˈrəp-shən
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
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