corruption Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun lack of integrity or honesty (especially susceptibility to bribery); use of a position of trust for dishonest gain
    corruptness.
  2. noun in a state of progressive putrefaction
    putrescence; rottenness; putridness.
  3. noun decay of matter (as by rot or oxidation)
  4. noun moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles
    putrefaction; depravation; depravity; degeneracy.
    • the luxury and corruption among the upper classes
    • moral degeneracy followed intellectual degeneration
    • its brothels, its opium parlors, its depravity
    • Rome had fallen into moral putrefaction
  5. noun destroying someone's (or some group's) honesty or loyalty; undermining moral integrity
    subversion.
    • corruption of a minor
    • the big city's subversion of rural innocence
  6. noun 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

WordNet

Cor*rup"tion noun
Etymology
F. corruption, L. corruptio.
Definitions
  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". Bacon.
  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.
    It was necessary, by exposing the gross corruptions of monasteries, . . . to exite popular indignation against them. Hallam.
    They abstained from some of the worst methods of corruption usual to their party in its earlier days. Bancroft.
    ✍ Corruption, when applied to officers, trustees, etc., signifies the inducing a violation of duty by means of pecuniary considerations. Abbott.
  4. The act of changing, or of being changed, for the worse; departure from what is pure, simple, or correct; as, a corruption of style; corruption in language.
    Corruption of blood can be removed only by act of Parliament. Blackstone.
    Syn. -- Putrescence; putrefaction; defilement; contamination; deprivation; debasement; adulteration; depravity; taint. See Depravity.

Webster 1913