noun C1 Advanced Uncommon

bribery

BREYE-buh-ree

Quiz me More like this

Bribery (noun) means the act of giving money or a favour to someone in a position of power in order to influence their decision. Example: “The contractor was jailed for bribery after paying an inspector to approve faulty work.”

noun

The act of giving money or a favour to someone in a position of power in order to influence their decision.

"The contractor was jailed for bribery after paying an inspector to approve faulty work."

"The scandal exposed years of bribery inside the planning department."

How to use bribery

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishPaying someone off so they do what you want, when they are not supposed to be for sale.

Common mistake

Bribery is the act of paying someone off; blackmail is threatening to expose someone unless they pay or comply — the direction of pressure is reversed.

Easily confused with

blackmail → quid pro quo →

Common pairings

charged with bribery bribery and corruption accept a bribe

Vocabulary Flow

Build your vocabulary from words like bribery.

Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.

Start vocabulary practice

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: briberies

Test yourself on “bribery” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The contractor was jailed for _____ after paying an inspector to approve faulty work.

Etymology

From bribe plus the suffix -ery, going back through Old French to a root meaning "to beg" or "to steal".

Origin: Old French

Synonyms

View more →

graft

Related words

station join labour corruption transplant hustle graft hard work

Rhymes for bribery

very every fiery query leery artery celery bakery finery ornery misery watery

See all rhymes for bribery →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bribery” mean?

The word “bribery” means the act of giving money or a favour to someone in a position of power in order to influence their decision. In plain terms, paying someone off so they do what you want, when they are not supposed to be for sale.

How do you pronounce “bribery”?

“Bribery” is pronounced BREYE-buh-ree (/ˈbɹaɪbəɹi/ in IPA).

How do you use “bribery” in a sentence?

Here is “bribery” used in a sentence: “The contractor was jailed for bribery after paying an inspector to approve faulty work.”

What part of speech is “bribery”?

“Bribery” is a noun.

Where does the word “bribery” come from?

The word “bribery” comes from Old French. From bribe plus the suffix -ery, going back through Old French to a root meaning "to beg" or "to steal".

Is “bribery” a common word?

“Bribery” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include bribery:

Words with French origins

People also searched

station join labour corruption transplant hustle graft hard work