Word
corruption
Meanings
Dishonest or illegal behavior by officials or people in authority, especially taking money or advantages in return for favors.
The process by which something becomes morally degraded or a system becomes dishonest and unfair over time.
Damage to computer data or a digital file that makes it incorrect, unreadable, or unusable.
Definition
Corruption is dishonest or illegal behavior by people in power, especially when they misuse their position for personal gain.
Corruption happens when someone abuses entrusted power to benefit themselves or their associates. It often involves bribery, favoritism, or fraud and can undermine trust in institutions. People also use the word for the moral decay of a system, or for data and files that become damaged and unusable.
Examples
- The journalist gathered documents that pointed to corruption in the city’s procurement process.
- I left the committee because I refused to be complicit in corruption, even indirectly.
- They launched an internal audit after repeated rumors of corruption among senior managers.
- She argued that everyday bribery normalizes corruption and erodes public trust.
- The backup saved our project after file corruption made the original folder unreadable.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "corruption" with "bribery"—bribery is one specific act, while corruption is the broader problem or system.
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