Dictionary
corruption
noun cor·rup·tion \kə-ˈrəp-shən\
: dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people (such as government officials or police officers)
: the act of corrupting someone or something
: something that has been changed from its original form
Full Definition of CORRUPTION
1
a : impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle : depravity b : decay, decomposition c : inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means (as bribery) d : a departure from the original or from what is pure or correct
2
archaic : an agency or influence that corrupts
3
chiefly dialect : pus
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First Known Use of CORRUPTION
14th century
Related to CORRUPTION
- Synonyms
- breakdown, decay, decomposition, festering, putrefaction, putrescence, rot, spoilage
Other Legal Terms
Rhymes with CORRUPTION
CORRUPTION Defined for Kids
corruption
noun cor·rup·tion \kə-ˈrəp-shən\
Definition of CORRUPTION for Kids
1
: dishonest or illegal behavior <corruption in politics>
2
: the process of causing someone else to do something wrong <… the little scene that I had overheard was the last act in the corruption of one of the honest hands … — Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island>
3
: the act of changing or damaging something <the corruption of an ancient text> <the corruption of a computer file>
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