hush money

American  

noun

1. a bribe to keep someone silent about something, especially to keep the receiver from exposing a scandal.

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hush money British  

noun

1. slang money given to a person, such as an accomplice, to ensure that something is kept secret

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hush money Idioms  

1. A bribe paid to keep something secret, as in No amount of hush money will keep that scandal from coming out. [c. 1700]

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Etymology

Origin of hush money

First recorded in 1700–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hush money

Hellerstein has also tangled with Donald Trump, rejecting a request by the US president to have his New York hush money case moved to federal court.

From Barron's ● Mar. 24, 2026

But before Mackris could go any further, O’Reilly hit her with a lawsuit, alleging that she and her lawyer were trying to extort him out of $60 million in hush money.

From Slate ● Oct. 23, 2024

Second, Blanche claimed that the monthly $35,000 payment to Cohen was a legal service and not a reimbursement for the hush money he paid Daniels.

From Salon ● May 31, 2024

However sensational the charges, which stemmed from hush money payments made to an adult film actor, many voters will react to the Manhattan jury’s decision with a shrug.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 30, 2024

The complicated chain of events, known as the Watergate scandal, included hush money and destroyed evidence.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge

Related Words

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