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
But Bondi is also overseeing cuts within her building, including to the Public Integrity Section that takes on corruption cases against public officials, according to multiple media reports and confirmed by a former Justice Department official.
—
David Catanese, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2025
Compassionate Release of Nick Bovis Nick Bovis, a former San Francisco restaurateur, pleaded guilty to Honest Services and Insurance Wire Fraud in a political corruption case.
—Walter Pavlo, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Yesterday’s White House stunt had all the hallmarks of Trump corruption, but there was something else, too—an air of desperation.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
Without nonpartisan, professional civil servants, government dysfunction destroys the services people rely on, and corruption and financial mismanagement devastate the economy.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for corruption
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David Catanese, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2025
Compassionate Release of Nick Bovis Nick Bovis, a former San Francisco restaurateur, pleaded guilty to Honest Services and Insurance Wire Fraud in a political corruption case.
—Walter Pavlo, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Yesterday’s White House stunt had all the hallmarks of Trump corruption, but there was something else, too—an air of desperation.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
Without nonpartisan, professional civil servants, government dysfunction destroys the services people rely on, and corruption and financial mismanagement devastate the economy.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 12 Mar. 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 19 Mar. 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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