B2 noun Neutral

bribery

/ˈbraɪ.bər.i/

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 5
1

The 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.

2

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.

3

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.

Word Family

Noun
bribery
Verb
bribe
Adjective
bribable
Related
bribe
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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

1

The traffic officer was fired after being caught on camera accepting a small amount of bribery from a driver.

everyday

The policeman lost his job for taking illegal money from a motorist.

2

The international committee has implemented strict policies to combat bribery and ensure transparency in all voting processes.

formal

The group created rules to stop illegal payments and make voting fair.

3

I'm pretty sure there was some bribery involved in him getting that promotion over more qualified candidates.

informal

I think he paid someone off to get the job instead of better workers.

4

Economic theorists argue that systemic bribery can significantly hinder a developing nation's GDP growth by distorting market competition.

academic

Experts say widespread illegal payments hurt a country's economy by ruining fair competition.

5

Our corporate compliance training explicitly details what constitutes bribery when dealing with foreign government officials.

business

The company training explains exactly what counts as an illegal payment to officials.

Word Family

Noun
bribery
Verb
bribe
Adjective
bribable
Related
bribe

Common Collocations

widespread bribery bribery occurring in many places or among many people
accused of bribery to be charged with the crime of giving or taking bribes
bribery scandal a public situation where bribery is discovered and causes outrage
anti-bribery laws legal regulations designed to prevent the act of bribing
accept bribery to take money or gifts in exchange for a favor

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

bribery vs corruption

Corruption is a broad term for any dishonest conduct by those in power; bribery is the specific act of exchanging value for influence.

bribery vs extortion

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

Uncountable noun Used with verbs like: commit, expose, investigate, or combat Often followed by the preposition 'of' (e.g., bribery of officials)
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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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