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

Voters told pollsters that the issues most crucial to them were government corruption and the cost of living. — Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2026

Sanchez, whose Socialist Party lags in opinion polls, hopes to harness voter resentment over housing ⁠and shift the political narrative away from a series of corruption cases involving his inner circle and a deadly train crash last month. — Reuters, NBC news, 11 Nov. 2026

Now, history repeats itself in the ashes of the epic defeat that his war, tariffs, high prices, deportations and corruption brought upon his party. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2026

Opinion polls still show right-wing parties favored to form the next government, after eight years of Sánchez’s leadership and a damaging set of corruption scandals involving figures within the Prime Minister’s inner circle. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 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