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
Ken Paxton, who has served in his current role since 2015, was impeached in 2023 but later acquitted and faced allegations of corruption and taking part in an extramarital affair.
—
Julia Manchester, The Hill, 11 July 2025
The announcement comes nearly two years after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted on all 16 articles of impeachment related to allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025
Fernandes Anderson, 46, pleaded guilty on May 5 to two of six public corruption felony charges that were lodged against her in a federal indictment last December, when she was also arrested by the feds outside her Dorchester home.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 10 July 2025
In addition to the time behind bars, Kendall ordered the $2 million fine, finding that financial penalties for politicians who engage in corruption should be far higher and noting the money will go to help victims of crime in which the defendants are not as wealthy as Burke.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for corruption
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Julia Manchester, The Hill, 11 July 2025
The announcement comes nearly two years after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted on all 16 articles of impeachment related to allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025
Fernandes Anderson, 46, pleaded guilty on May 5 to two of six public corruption felony charges that were lodged against her in a federal indictment last December, when she was also arrested by the feds outside her Dorchester home.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 10 July 2025
In addition to the time behind bars, Kendall ordered the $2 million fine, finding that financial penalties for politicians who engage in corruption should be far higher and noting the money will go to help victims of crime in which the defendants are not as wealthy as Burke.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 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 15 Jul. 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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