noun C1 Advanced Uncommon

bribe

bryb

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Bribe (noun) means Money or a favor given to someone to influence their decision dishonestly. Example: “The official was caught accepting a bribe from a contractor.”

noun

Money or a favor given to someone to influence their decision dishonestly.

"The official was caught accepting a bribe from a contractor."

"Offering a bribe to a police officer is a serious crime."

verb

To offer someone money or a favor to influence them dishonestly.

"They tried to bribe the inspector to overlook the violations."

"She jokingly bribed her son with ice cream to finish his homework."

How to use bribe

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA dishonest payment (or the act of offering one) to get someone to do something they shouldn't.

Common mistake

Used loosely and jokingly for harmless persuasion ("I bribed the kids with candy"), but in a legal or formal context it always implies corruption.

Common pairings

accept a bribe offer a bribe bribe an official

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: bribes
Third person singular: bribes
Past tense: bribed

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Can you complete this real example?

The official was caught accepting a _____ from a contractor.

Etymology

From Old French briber, "to beg", originally describing money given to a beggar — the meaning later shifted to a corrupt payment for favors.

Origin: Old French

Synonyms

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corrupt buy backhander bung coffee money cold drink money dash douceur inducement kopi money pay-off payola

Related words

bad line pay buy Christian sell throw purchase

Rhymes for bribe

vibe tribe imbibe scribe describe prescribe subscribe transcribe unsubscribe

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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.

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