bribe
15 synonyms for bribe, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Money or a favor given to someone to influence their decision dishonestly.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
backhander
bung
coffee money
cold drink money
douceur
inducement
kopi money
pay-off
payola
subornation
sweetener
tea money
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
Money or a favor given to someone to influence their decision dishonestly.
“The official was caught accepting a bribe from a contractor.”
backhander
bung
coffee money
cold drink money
dash
douceur
inducement
kopi money
pay-off
payola
subornation
sweetener
tea money
How to use bribe
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
accept a bribe
offer a bribe
bribe an official
Etymology
From Old French briber, "to beg", originally describing money given to a beggar — the meaning later shifted to a corrupt payment for favors.
Full origin of bribe →Frequently asked questions
What does “bribe” mean?
The word “bribe” means money or a favor given to someone to influence their decision dishonestly. In plain terms, a dishonest payment (or the act of offering one) to get someone to do something they shouldn't.
How do you pronounce “bribe”?
“Bribe” is pronounced bryb (/bɹaɪb/ in IPA).
How do you use “bribe” in a sentence?
Here is “bribe” used in a sentence: “The official was caught accepting a bribe from a contractor.”
What is another word for “bribe”?
Words with a similar meaning to “bribe” include backhander, bung, coffee money, cold drink money, dash and douceur.
What part of speech is “bribe”?
Depending on how it is used, “bribe” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “bribe” come from?
The word “bribe” comes from Old French. From Old French briber, "to beg", originally describing money given to a beggar — the meaning later shifted to a corrupt payment for favors.
Is “bribe” a common word?
“Bribe” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “bribe” have?
“Bribe” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: money or a favor given to someone to influence their decision dishonestly.
