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
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
The Boston City Council will take up a resolution this week that calls for disgraced Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson’s removal from the body in the wake of her guilty plea to two federal corruption charges tied to a City Hall kickback scheme.
—
Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 13 May 2025
However, rumors swirled about his luxury lifestyle and possible corruption and eventually led to federal charges in 2007.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 12 May 2025
Although political enemies and former employees accused Shaw of corruption and abusing his mayoral office, he was never charged with any wrongdoing.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025
When the new pontiff attempts to root out the corruption, the mob plots his assassination, hence the film’s title, which became a sticking point for the movie’s stateside distributor, Miramax.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for corruption
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Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 13 May 2025
However, rumors swirled about his luxury lifestyle and possible corruption and eventually led to federal charges in 2007.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 12 May 2025
Although political enemies and former employees accused Shaw of corruption and abusing his mayoral office, he was never charged with any wrongdoing.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025
When the new pontiff attempts to root out the corruption, the mob plots his assassination, hence the film’s title, which became a sticking point for the movie’s stateside distributor, Miramax.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for corruption
Cite this Entry
“Corruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corruption. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
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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