bribery
Americannoun
-
briberies
plural
noun
Usage
What does bribery mean? Bribery is the act of giving money (or something else of value) to someone to get them to do something you want them to do, especially something they’re not supposed to do. In other words, bribery is the act of bribing someone—offering them a bribe. In most cases, this refers to the often illegal act of offering money to people in official positions, like politicians, government officials, or sports referees, in order to get them to change an outcome to be more favorable to the person offering the bribe. For example, a businessperson might bribe a senator to vote a certain way, which is of course illegal. Bribery can also refer to the practice of offering someone an incentive to do something, especially a child, as in I tried offering the kids TV time as a reward for cleaning up their room, but apparently bribery doesn’t work because they didn’t do it. Bribery can also refer to the exchange or acceptance of a bribe, but it most commonly refers to the act of offering it. Example: The video clearly shows the lobbyist presenting the senator a briefcase full of money and asking for a favorable vote—it’s an open-and-shut case of bribery.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of bribery
1350–1400; Middle English briberie theft < Middle French: begging. See bribe, -ery
Compare meaning
How does bribery compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
If you secretly give money to a contest judge to win a competition rather than play fairly, you engage in bribery. Bribery involves offering money, gifts, or favors to someone in power to influence their actions in your favor. It’s like slipping a dollar to your friend to get them to do your homework or giving a gift to a teacher for a better grade. Bribery is often illegal because it undermines fairness and honesty, creating an unequal playing field where the rules are bent for those willing to pay. This unethical practice can happen in politics, business, sports, and even everyday situations.
Vocabulary lists containing bribery
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The defendant, who was convicted last year on 21 counts of extortion, bribery, conspiracy and lying to the FBI, was nearly 5,000 miles away in northern Greece.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Annie Clark, Collins’ deputy chief of staff, told ProPublica in an email that Collins’ office “vigorously” denies allegations of bribery and pay-for-play made by Kao, calling his claims “outlandish.”
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
Prosecutors began investigating the bribery scheme after receiving a 2018 tip about an unusual donation to Smith’s reelection campaign.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
Hui Ka Yan pleaded guilty in April to several charges, including embezzlement of assets and corporate bribery.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
During this visit Emma discovered that bribery was a good way to get a child to do what you wanted.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
But whether Mr. Hastings had the example of others or not, their example could not justify his briberies.
From The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 10 (of 12) by Edmund Burke
By the aid of certain small briberies on the train and in Paris Carmichael gathered, bit by bit, that the destination of the woman he loved was America.
From The Goose Girl by Harold MacGrath
The barefaced acts of injustice and shameless briberies daily occurring in the Mehkames, or halls of justice, would seem almost incredible to an European, and especially an Englishman.
From Travels in Arabia; comprehending an account of those territories in Hedjaz which the Mohammedans regard as sacred by John Lewis Burckhardt
These deities might be lured by certain rites and briberies into a transfer of their favors to the besieging army.
From Autobiographical Sketches by Thomas De Quincey
One had to run the gauntlet of the custom-house here, and to practise unheard-of briberies upon the venal douaniers of the Pope before being allowed to pass on to his hotel.
From Roman Mosaics Or, Studies in Rome and Its Neighbourhood by Hugh Macmillan
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