corrupt
kuh-RUHPT
Corrupt (adj) means willing to act dishonestly, especially by taking bribes, in exchange for personal gain. Example: “The corrupt inspector overlooked the dangerous wiring in return for a gift.”
adj
1
Willing to act dishonestly, especially by taking bribes, in exchange for personal gain.
"The corrupt inspector overlooked the dangerous wiring in return for a gift."
"The corrupt official demanded a bribe to approve the permit."
"Voters were fed up with corrupt politicians."
verb
1
To cause someone to act dishonestly, or to damage the integrity of something.
"Greed can corrupt a person who once seemed completely honest."
"Power can corrupt even well-meaning leaders."
"A virus corrupted several files on the drive."
How to use corrupt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDishonest for personal gain, or to make something dishonest, damaged, or unusable.
Common pairings
corrupt official
corrupt file
corrupt system
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- corrupts
- Past tense
- corrupted
- Comparative
- more corrupt
- Superlative
- most corrupt
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ inspector overlooked the dangerous wiring in return for a gift.
Etymology
From Latin corruptus, past participle of corrumpere, "to ruin or spoil" — from com- ("together, thoroughly") plus rumpere, "to break".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
incorrupt
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “corrupt” mean?
The word “corrupt” means willing to act dishonestly, especially by taking bribes, in exchange for personal gain. In plain terms, dishonest for personal gain, or to make something dishonest, damaged, or unusable.
How do you pronounce “corrupt”?
“Corrupt” is pronounced kuh-RUHPT (/kəˈɹʌpt/ in IPA).
How do you use “corrupt” in a sentence?
Here is “corrupt” used in a sentence: “The corrupt official demanded a bribe to approve the permit.”
What is another word for “corrupt”?
Words with a similar meaning to “corrupt” include corrupted.
What part of speech is “corrupt”?
Depending on how it is used, “corrupt” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “corrupt” come from?
The word “corrupt” comes from Latin. From Latin corruptus, past participle of corrumpere, "to ruin or spoil" — from com- ("together, thoroughly") plus rumpere, "to break".
Is “corrupt” a common word?
“Corrupt” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “corrupt” have?
“Corrupt” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: willing to act dishonestly, especially by taking bribes, in exchange for personal gain.
What is the difference between corrupt and corrupted?
"Corrupt" is often an adjective describing someone willing to act dishonestly, or a verb meaning to make dishonest or to damage integrity. "Corrupted" is the past-tense or past-participle form of the verb, describing something that has already been damaged or led into dishonesty, as in "a corrupted file."
What is the difference between corrupt and dishonest?
Both involve a lack of honesty, but "corrupt" specifically suggests abusing a position of power or trust for personal gain, often through bribery. "Dishonest" is broader and can describe any lying or cheating, whether or not power is involved.
Can a file be corrupt?
Yes. In computing, "corrupt" uses the sense of damaging the integrity of something, so a corrupt file is one whose data has been damaged and can no longer be read or used properly. This meaning has nothing to do with dishonesty.
What is the difference between corrupt and immoral?
"Immoral" describes behaviour that goes against accepted standards of right and wrong in general. "Corrupt" is narrower, pointing to dishonest conduct such as bribery, usually by someone who abuses power or a trusted role for personal gain.
