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
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 he was sacked by Mahathir a year later and jailed on charges of corruption and sodomizing a male aide—accusations long decried by human-rights groups as politically motivated and that were eventually quashed in 2004.
—
Charlie Campbell / Kulim, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024
The thematic linchpin of the crossing stories are macro subjects: corruption and economic strife.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 17 Sep. 2024
This ongoing effort has created a web of cruelty, deceit, and corruption in which many unfortunate people are ensnared.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024
He was arrested and extradited to Peru to stand trial — not for the corruption scandal, but for human rights abuses during his battle with the Shining Path, including at least 25 murders by a military hit squad.
—Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for corruption 
Charlie Campbell / Kulim, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024
The thematic linchpin of the crossing stories are macro subjects: corruption and economic strife.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 17 Sep. 2024
This ongoing effort has created a web of cruelty, deceit, and corruption in which many unfortunate people are ensnared.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024
He was arrested and extradited to Peru to stand trial — not for the corruption scandal, but for human rights abuses during his battle with the Shining Path, including at least 25 murders by a military hit squad.
—Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for corruption
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'corruption.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near corruption
Cite this Entry
“Corruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corruption. Accessed 26 Sep. 2024.
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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