corruption

The word “corruption” means dishonest or illegal behavior, especially by people in power, such as bribery. In plain terms, dishonest abuse of power for personal benefit, or damage to information/data.

“Corruption” is pronounced kuh-RUHP-shuhn (/kəˈɹʌpʃən/ in IPA).

Here is “corruption” used in a sentence: “The report exposed widespread corruption in city government.”

Words with a similar meaning to “corruption” include rent-seeking, abasement, adulteration, debasement, debauchment and defilement.

The opposite of “corruption” — its antonyms — are exaltation, expiation, preservation, purgation and purification.

“Corruption” is a noun.

The word “corruption” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French corruption, from Latin corruptio — from the same root as "corrupt".

“Corruption” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

Bribery is one specific form of corruption, involving offering or accepting something of value in exchange for improper favours. Corruption is the broader term for dishonest or illegal conduct by people in power, of which bribery is just one example.

Fraud is deception carried out for personal gain and can be committed against anyone. Corruption specifically involves the abuse of an entrusted position or public power, such as an official taking bribes.

In the ethical sense, common phrases include political corruption, a corruption scandal, and rooting out corruption. In computing, you often see file corruption, data corruption, and disk corruption.