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
Confidential finds a powerful political lobbyist shot to death, his apparent suicide highlighting a bizarre turn in Ohio’s largest public corruption case accidentaly uncovered by federal investigators that was nearly concealed by loose super PAC campaign financing rules.
—
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025
When their late boss, Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano), is reported to have engaged in corruption tied to drug cartels, Mike and Marcus vow to clear his name.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
White seems to like bringing back the one generally decent woman, for purposes of corruption.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2025
In short, the Chicago area has a history of red-light camera corruption.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for corruption
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Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025
When their late boss, Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano), is reported to have engaged in corruption tied to drug cartels, Mike and Marcus vow to clear his name.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
White seems to like bringing back the one generally decent woman, for purposes of corruption.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2025
In short, the Chicago area has a history of red-light camera corruption.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 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 18 Apr. 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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