Corruption — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /kə-ˈrəp-shən/ cor·rup·tion

Meaning & Definition of Corruption

Corruption (noun)

  1. dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people (such as government officials or police officers), depravity
  2. inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means (such as bribery)
  3. a departure from the original or from what is pure or correct

Corruption (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances

    "the ancient Egyptians used special preservatives to spare their dead from complete corruption"

    similar: breakdown, decay, decomposition, festering, putrefaction, putrescence, rot, spoilage
    related: crumbling, disintegration, dissolution, curdling, fermentation, moldering, souring
    near: growth, maturation, ripening

  2. a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior

    "the corruption of the upper classes eventually led to the fall of the Roman empire"

    similar: abjection, corruptness, debasement, debauchery, decadence, decadency, degeneracy, degenerateness, degeneration, degradation, demoralization, depravity, dissipatedness, dissipation, dissoluteness, libertinage, libertinism, perversion, pervertedness, rakishness, turpitude
    related: evil, immorality, sinfulness, villainy, wickedness, filth, gangrene, rot, squalor
    near: goodness, morality, righteousness, virtue

  3. immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society

    "Socrates was put to death because the ancient Athenians believed he was spreading corruption to their youth"

    similar: debauchery, depravity, immorality, iniquitousness, iniquity, libertinage, libertinism, licentiousness, profligacy, sin, vice
    related: bad, badness, evil, evildoing, ill, turpitude, villainy, wickedness, wrong, atrociousness, evilness, heinousness, sinfulness, unscrupulousness, viciousness, vileness, villainousness, devilry, fiendishness, corruptness, debasement, degeneracy, degeneration, depravedness, dissoluteness, dissolution, indecency, lasciviousness, lechery, lewdness, looseness, perversion, pervertedness, wantonness, abomination, anathema, taboo, criminality, reprehensibleness, baseness, despicableness, dirtiness, lowness, meanness, lousiness, miserableness, wretchedness
    opposite: morality, virtue
    near: good, right, honesty, honor, integrity, legitimacy, probity, rectitude, scrupulosity, scrupulousness, uprightness, goodness, righteousness, virtuousness, blamelessness, chastity, innocence, perfection, pureness, purity, spotlessness, cleanness, correctness, decency, decorousness, propriety, rightness, seemliness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Corruption

The most common words with a similar meaning to Corruption:

breakdown, decay, decomposition, festering, putrefaction, putrescence, rot, spoilage, abjection, corruptness, debasement, debauchery, decadence, decadency, degeneracy, degenerateness, degeneration, degradation, demoralization, depravity, dissipatedness, dissipation, dissoluteness, libertinage, libertinism, perversion, pervertedness, rakishness, turpitude, immorality, iniquitousness, iniquity, licentiousness, profligacy, sin, vice

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Corruption

Words with the opposite meaning of Corruption:

morality, virtue

Related Words for Corruption

crumbling, disintegration, dissolution, curdling, fermentation, moldering, souring, evil, sinfulness, villainy, wickedness, filth, gangrene, squalor, bad, badness, evildoing, ill, wrong, atrociousness, evilness, heinousness, unscrupulousness, viciousness, vileness, villainousness, devilry, fiendishness, depravedness, indecency

Near Antonyms of Corruption

growth, maturation, ripening, goodness, righteousness, good, right, honesty, honor, integrity, legitimacy, probity, rectitude, scrupulosity, scrupulousness, uprightness, virtuousness, blamelessness, chastity, innocence, perfection, pureness, purity, spotlessness, cleanness, correctness, decency, decorousness, propriety, rightness

Origin & Etymology of Corruption

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Corruption

Words & Phrases Containing Corruption

corruption of blood, anti-corruption

Frequently Asked Questions about Corruption

What does "Corruption" mean?

"Corruption" means dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people (such as government officials or police officers), depravity. As a noun, it is defined as: dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people (such as government officials or police officers), depravity. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Corruption"?

Other words for "Corruption" include breakdown, decay, decomposition, festering, putrefaction, putrescence, rot and spoilage. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Corruption" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Corruption"?

There are 84 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Corruption". Common alternatives include breakdown, decay, decomposition, festering, putrefaction, putrescence, rot, spoilage, abjection and corruptness.

What is the opposite of "Corruption"?

Antonyms of "Corruption" include morality and virtue. Near antonyms include growth, maturation, ripening and goodness.

How do you use "Corruption" in a sentence?

Examples of "Corruption" in a sentence: "the ancient Egyptians used special preservatives to spare their dead from complete corruption"; "the corruption of the upper classes eventually led to the fall of the Roman empire"; "Socrates was put to death because the ancient Athenians believed he was spreading corruption to their youth".

Is "Corruption" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Corruption" is a noun.

Is "Corruption" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Corruption" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Corruption"?

"Corruption" is pronounced /kə-ˈrəp-shən/ and divided into syllables as cor·rup·tion.