bribery
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.”
How to use bribery
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPaying someone off so they do what you want, when they are not supposed to be for sale.
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.
Word forms
briberies plural
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".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for bribery
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.
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