corruption
noun
cor·rup·tion
kə-ˈrəp-shən 
1
a
: dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people (such as government officials or police officers) : depravity
b
: inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means (such as bribery)
the corruption of government officials
c
: a departure from the original or from what is pure or correct
the corruption of a text
the corruption of computer files
d
: decay, decomposition
the corruption of a carcass
2
chiefly dialectal
: pus
3
archaic
: an agency or influence that corrupts
Examples of corruption in a Sentence
There are rumors of widespread corruption in the city government.
the mafia's corruption of public officials
corruption of the English language
computer software that is supposed to prevent the corruption of files
the corruption of a text
Recent Examples on the Web
The film's themes of corruption and the brave whistleblowers who expose it feel particularly apt in this current moment.
—
Jessica Wang, EW.com, 5 June 2025
In the early two-thousands, he was found to have misrepresented himself as a prosecutor to help a journalist investigate a mayor suspected of corruption; he was accused of having an extramarital affair; his son reportedly posted misogynistic comments online.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
Hochul chose him after his predecessor, Benjamin Brian, resigned amid charges of corruption, which were eventually dropped.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 4 June 2025
But Lee has been dogged by allegations of corruption, allowing the Conservative Party to close the gap in the election.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for corruption
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Jessica Wang, EW.com, 5 June 2025
In the early two-thousands, he was found to have misrepresented himself as a prosecutor to help a journalist investigate a mayor suspected of corruption; he was accused of having an extramarital affair; his son reportedly posted misogynistic comments online.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
Hochul chose him after his predecessor, Benjamin Brian, resigned amid charges of corruption, which were eventually dropped.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 4 June 2025
But Lee has been dogged by allegations of corruption, allowing the Conservative Party to close the gap in the election.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for corruption
Cite this Entry
“Corruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corruption. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
corruption
noun
cor·rup·tion
kə-ˈrəp-shən
1
: physical decay or rotting
2
: dishonest or evil behavior
3
: the causing of someone else to do wrong (as by bribery)
4
: a change from the original or for the worse
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