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

Synonyms of corruption

• decomposition
• decay

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

Then there’s an older Lula, back on the streets after being freed from prison for what his allies always believed were unjust corruption charges, and mobilizing opposition to Brazil’s far right in defense of the country’s democracy. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has led tributes to Haines, an independent member of parliament and a passionate campaigner for transparency and against corruption. — CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Concerns over corruption and democratic backsliding prompted the bloc to begin withholding billions in funding to Hungary in 2021. — Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Working with the Venezuelan state company, Petróleos de Venezuela, SA, was never really an option due to its underlying debt and history of corruption, the person said. — Cate Brown, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see corrupt entry 1

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing corruption

• anti-corruption
• corruption of blood

Rhymes for corruption

• disruption
• eruption
• irruption
• incorruption
• interruption

Kids 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