bribery
Bribery is the illegal act of offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting something of value as a means of influencing the actions of an individual in a position of trust. It is commonly associated with corruption and used to gain an unfair advantage in legal, political, or business matters.
Examples
3 of 5The traffic officer was fired after being caught on camera accepting a small amount of bribery from a driver.
The policeman lost his job for taking illegal money from a motorist.
The international committee has implemented strict policies to combat bribery and ensure transparency in all voting processes.
The group created rules to stop illegal payments and make voting fair.
I'm pretty sure there was some bribery involved in him getting that promotion over more qualified candidates.
I think he paid someone off to get the job instead of better workers.
Synonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think: 'Buy-be'. You 'Buy' someone's 'Behavior'. Bribery is the act of buying a behavior that should be free or fair.
Quick Quiz
The CEO was forced to resign after being implicated in a massive ______ scandal involving government contracts.
Correct!
The correct answer is: bribery
Examples
The traffic officer was fired after being caught on camera accepting a small amount of bribery from a driver.
everydayThe policeman lost his job for taking illegal money from a motorist.
The international committee has implemented strict policies to combat bribery and ensure transparency in all voting processes.
formalThe group created rules to stop illegal payments and make voting fair.
I'm pretty sure there was some bribery involved in him getting that promotion over more qualified candidates.
informalI think he paid someone off to get the job instead of better workers.
Economic theorists argue that systemic bribery can significantly hinder a developing nation's GDP growth by distorting market competition.
academicExperts say widespread illegal payments hurt a country's economy by ruining fair competition.
Our corporate compliance training explicitly details what constitutes bribery when dealing with foreign government officials.
businessThe company training explains exactly what counts as an illegal payment to officials.
Synonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
grease someone's palm
to give someone a bribe
bribe one's way into
to use illegal payments to gain access to a place or position
under-the-table payment
a secret, illegal payment
Often Confused With
Corruption is a broad term for any dishonest conduct by those in power; bribery is the specific act of exchanging value for influence.
Extortion involves obtaining something through force or threats, whereas bribery usually involves an offer of a benefit.
Usage Notes
Bribery is an uncountable noun when referring to the practice or crime in general. Use 'bribe' (countable) to refer to the specific gift or money given.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'bribe' when they should use 'bribery'. Remember: 'bribery' is the crime/concept, 'a bribe' is the actual thing (money/gift).
Memory Tip
Think: 'Buy-be'. You 'Buy' someone's 'Behavior'. Bribery is the act of buying a behavior that should be free or fair.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old French 'briberie', which originally meant 'theft' or 'begging' before evolving into the modern sense of corruption.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
While legally condemned worldwide, some cultures distinguish between 'grand bribery' (high-level politics) and 'petty bribery' or 'facilitation payments' (small tips to speed up services).
Quick Quiz
The CEO was forced to resign after being implicated in a massive ______ scandal involving government contracts.
Correct!
The correct answer is: bribery
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