Definition

The act of giving or receiving money or gifts to influence someone's actions or decisions, often in a dishonest way.

Example

The politician was accused of bribery after accepting money from a business in exchange for favors.

Conversation

Did you hear about the latest scandal involving bribery?

Yeah, it's crazy how common it seems these days.

I can't believe people would go that far for a little advantage.

Right? It just shows how corrupt some systems can be.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Bribery → It is formed from "bribe" (from Old French *bribe*, meaning a piece of bread or a morsel) and the suffix "-ery" (meaning a state or condition). The word "bribery" refers to the condition of giving or receiving a bribe, which originally involved offering something of value, like food, to influence someone's actions.

Memory Tip

Think of the Old French word for a small piece of food ('bribe') that was used to influence others, helping you remember that 'bribery' involves offering something to sway someone's decision.

Visually Confused Words