bribe

[ brahyb ]

/ braɪb /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR bribe ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

money or any other valuable consideration given or promised with a view to corrupting the behavior of a person, especially in that person's performance as an athlete, public official, etc.: The motorist offered the arresting officer a bribe to let him go.

anything given or serving to persuade or induce: The children were given candy as a bribe to be good.

verb (used with object), bribed, brib·ing.

to give or promise a bribe to: They bribed the reporter to forget about what he had seen.

to influence or corrupt by a bribe: The judge was too honest to be bribed.

verb (used without object), bribed, brib·ing.

to give a bribe; practice bribery.

Nearby words

Origin of bribe

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French: remnant of food given as alms, said to be < an expressive base *bri(m)b- denoting something small

Related forms

brib·a·ble, bribe·a·ble, adjectivebrib·a·bil·i·ty, bribe·a·bil·i·ty, nounbrib·ee, nounbrib·er, noun

out·bribe, verb (used with object), out·bribed, out·brib·ing.un·brib·a·ble, adjectiveun·brib·a·bly, adverbun·bribed, adjectiveun·brib·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bribe

In a sense, she attempts to bribe the pastor, offering to make his church her home.
The Good Wife’s Religion Politics: Voters Have No Faith in Alicia's Atheism|Regina Lizik|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But at least in Moscow, a bribe or a good connection stand you a fighting chance to get what you need.
Despite ObamaCare, US Health System Still a Complete Mess|Molly Worthen|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Asked if he did anything wrong, Cianci responded simply, “I was not guilty of conspiracy to take a bribe.”
Can America’s Favorite Ex-Con Mayor Win Again?|David Freedlander|June 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I did not have enough money to bribe the judge, so I decided to become a mercenary,” Mozhayev told a local reporter.
The Kremlin’s Crazy Shock Troops|Oleg Shynkarenko|May 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Suppose a congressional aide overhears a phone call in which a senator takes a bribe.
Democracy Demands a Journalist-Source Shield Law|Geoffrey R. Stone|April 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Wherever Henry or his allies could bribe or bully the learned doctors, an answer was usually given in the affirmative.
A Student's History of England, v. 2 (of 3)|Samuel R. Gardiner.
No bribe could seduce—no threat divert Mr. Adams from the path of duty.
Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution|L. Carroll Judson
He thought of going back and finding Maria Consuelo's maid—he might bribe her to prevent her mistress's departure.
Don Orsino|F. Marion Crawford
I reckoned on being able to bribe Forde to help me to do this.
Mortomley's Estate, Vol. III (of 3)|Charlotte Elizabeth Lawson Cowan Riddell
Why will they attempt to bribe Science to certify to the writings of God?
Individuality|Robert G. Ingersoll

British Dictionary definitions for bribe

bribe

/ (braɪb) /

verb

to promise, offer, or give something, usually money, to (a person) to procure services or gain influence, esp illegally

noun

a reward, such as money or favour, given or offered for this purpose

any persuasion or lure

a length of flawed or damaged cloth removed from the main piece

Derived Formsbribable or bribeable, adjectivebriber, noun

Word Origin for bribe

C14: from Old French briber to beg, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for bribe (1 of 2)

bribe

late 14c., "thing stolen," from Old French bribe "bit, piece, hunk; morsel of bread given to beggars" (14c., cf. Old French bribeor "vagrant, beggar"), from briber, brimber "to beg," a general Romanic word (Gamillscheg marks it as Rotwelsch, i.e. "thieves' jargon"), of uncertain origin; old sources suggest Celtic (cf. Breton breva "to break"). Shift of meaning to "gift given to influence corruptly" is by mid-15c.

Word Origin and History for bribe (1 of 2)

bribe

late 14c., "pilfer, steal," also "practice extortion," from Old French briber "go begging," from bribe (see bribe (n.)). Related: Bribed; bribing.

bribe

noun

verb (used with object), bribed, brib·ing.

verb (used without object), bribed, brib·ing.

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Origin of bribe

Examples from the Web for bribe

British Dictionary definitions for bribe

bribe

verb

noun

Word Origin for bribe

Word Origin and History for bribe (1 of 2)

bribe

Word Origin and History for bribe (1 of 2)

bribe