A quid pro quo is any exchange of one thing for another — the phrase is neutral and describes ordinary contracts as easily as corruption. Bribery is the specific crime of offering something of value to improperly influence someone in a position of trust. All bribery is a quid pro quo; almost no quid pro quo is bribery.
The core difference
- quid pro quo — this for that. A neutral description of any reciprocal exchange.
- bribery — offering or accepting value to corrupt the judgement of someone acting in a position of trust. A criminal offence.
Why the phrase sounds guilty
Because it is most often heard in reporting on corruption investigations, many people now hear quid pro quo as an accusation. It is not one. Buying a sandwich is a quid pro quo. So is a salary, an insurance policy and every contract ever signed.
What turns an exchange into bribery
Three things generally have to be present:
- Something of value offered, given, solicited or received.
- A person acting in a position of trust — a public official, or in many jurisdictions anyone with a duty to act impartially.
- Intent to influence that person to act improperly, or to reward them for having done so.
The value need not be money, and in most systems the offence is complete on the offer. Nothing has to be delivered.
Quid pro quo harassment
The phrase has a specific meaning in employment law: conditioning a job benefit on submission to sexual advances. It is one of the two recognised categories of sexual harassment, alongside hostile environment. This legal use is a large part of why the phrase carries a negative charge in everyday English.
Related but distinct
- Kickback — a portion of a payment returned to whoever arranged it.
- Graft — using a position of power for personal gain, broader than bribery.
- Facilitation payment — a small payment to speed up a routine service. Lawful in a few jurisdictions, prohibited in many, including under the UK Bribery Act.
The Latin, and the odd word inside it
Quid pro quo is literally something for something. It entered English in the sixteenth century as a pharmacy term, meaning one medicine substituted for another — the sense of a fair swap came later. It is unrelated to quid meaning a pound sterling, though the coincidence is a persistent source of confusion.
This explains the words, not your situation. Anything specific is a question for a lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
Is a quid pro quo illegal?
No. It simply means an exchange of one thing for another, which describes almost every contract. It becomes bribery only when the aim is to improperly influence someone in a position of trust.
What makes something bribery?
Something of value, a person in a position of trust, and intent to influence them to act improperly. In most systems the offence is complete on the offer, whether or not anything is delivered.
Why does quid pro quo sound negative?
Because it is most often heard in corruption reporting, and because it has a specific legal meaning in sexual harassment law.