Meaning & use

corrupt

adjective·Academic

Willing to act dishonestly, especially by abusing power or accepting bribes, in exchange for personal gain.

See it in a sentence

Investigators uncovered a corrupt official who had been accepting bribes for years.

Citizens protested against the corrupt regime that had looted public funds for decades.

A note on using this word

"Corrupt" can describe people, institutions, or even damaged data, as in "a corrupt computer file."

Words with a similar meaning

dishonestcrooked

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. verb

To cause someone to become dishonest or to damage something's original quality.

Absolute power can eventually corrupt even the most well-intentioned and disciplined leaders.

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