| n. | 1. | The act of corrupting or making putrid, or state of being corrupt or putrid; decomposition or disorganization, in the process of putrefaction; putrefaction; deterioration. The inducing and accelerating of putrefaction is a subject of very universal inquiry; for corruption is a reciprocal to "generation". | |||
| 2. | The product of corruption; putrid matter. | ||||
| 3. | The act of corrupting or of impairing integrity, virtue, or moral principle; the state of being corrupted or debased; loss of purity or integrity; depravity; wickedness; impurity; bribery. | ||||
| 4. | The act of changing, or of being changed, for the worse; departure from what is pure, simple, or correct;
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| Noun | 1. | corruption - lack of integrity or honesty (especially susceptibility to bribery); use of a position of trust for dishonest gain Synonyms: corruptness |
| 2. | corruption - in a state of progressive putrefaction | |
| 3. | corruption - decay of matter (as by rot or oxidation) | |
| 4. | corruption - moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles; "the luxury and corruption among the upper classes"; "moral degeneracy followed intellectual degeneration"; "its brothels; its opium parlors; its depravity" Synonyms: depravity, degeneracy | |
| 5. | corruption - destroying someone's (or some group's) honesty or loyalty; undermining moral integrity; "corruption of a minor"; "the big city's subversion of rural innocence" Synonyms: subversion | |
| 6. | corruption - inducement (as of a public official) by improper means (as bribery) to violate duty (as by commiting a felony); "he was held on charges of corruption and racketeering" |
CORRUPTION. An act done with an intent to give some advantage inconsistent
with official duty and the rights of others. It includes bribery, but is
more comprehensive; because an act may be corruptly done, though the
advantage to be derived from it be not offered by another. Merl. Rep. h.t.
2. By corruption, sometimes, is understood something against law; as, a
contract by which the borrower agreed to pay the lender usurious interest.
It is said, in such case, that it was corruptly agreed, &c.