venal

adjective

ve·​nal ˈvē-nᵊl 

1

: capable of being bought or obtained for money or other valuable consideration : purchasable

especially : open to corrupt influence and especially bribery : mercenary

a venal legislator

2

: originating in, characterized by, or associated with corrupt bribery

a venal arrangement with the police

venality

vi-ˈna-lə-tē 

noun

venally

ˈvē-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

Did you know?

What's the difference between venal and venial?

If you are given the choice between acts that are venal and those that are venial, go for the venial. Although the two words look and sound alike, they have very different meanings and histories. Venal demonstrates the adage that anything can be had if the price is high enough and the morals are low enough. That word originated with the Latin venum, which simply referred to something that was sold or for sale. Some of those transactions must have been rather shady because by the mid-1600s, venal had gained the sense of corruption it carries today. Venial sins, on the other hand, are pardonable, the kind that show that everyone makes mistakes sometimes. That forgiving term descends from venia, Latin for "favor," "indulgence," or "pardon."

Synonyms

• bribable
• corruptible
• dirty
• purchasable

Examples of venal in a Sentence

that judge is known for being venal and easily bought

Recent Examples on the Web

The press, the political class, and both major parties have proved to be sclerotic, venal, and shortsighted. —The Editors, National Review, 4 July 2024

Pig-butchering scams are almost without exception run by triad gangs who set up on China’s periphery, where the transnational nature of the crime, fuzzy jurisdiction and venal local authorities make cases difficult to prosecute. —TIME, 21 Mar. 2024

The risk of instability and military takeover extends beyond the Sahel to other African countries where the West has tolerated venal and autocratic rule. —Joseph Sany, Foreign Affairs, 30 Jan. 2024

But Safdie eschews the sleazy reality TV producer stereotype, creating a man who is both pitiful and venal. —EW.com, 6 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin vēnālis "that may be bought, for sale," from *vēnus "sale" (attested only in accusative vēnum and dative vēnō, vēnuī; akin to Greek ônos "price," Sanskrit vasna- "price, value") + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

venal

adjective

ve·​nal ˈvēn-ᵊl 

1

: willing to take bribes

venal officials

2

: influenced by bribery : corrupt

venal conduct

venality

vi-ˈnal-ət-ē 

noun

venally

ˈvēn-ᵊl-ē 

adverb