suborn

[ suh-bawrn ]

verb (used with object)

1. to bribe or induce (someone) unlawfully or secretly to perform some misdeed or to commit a crime

   The drug cartel suborned the local police department to turn a blind eye to their trafficking.

2. Law.
   1. to induce (a person, especially a witness) to give false testimony.
   2. to obtain (false testimony) from a witness.

suborn

/ ˌsʌbɔːˈneɪʃən; səˈbɔːn; sʌˈbɔːnətɪv /

verb

1. to bribe, incite, or instigate (a person) to commit a wrongful act
2. criminal law to induce (a witness) to commit perjury

Derived Forms

• subˈorner, noun
• subornation, noun
• subornative, adjective

Other Words From

• sub·or·na·tion [suhb-awr-, ney, -sh, uh, n], noun
• sub·or·na·tive [s, uh, -, bawr, -n, uh, -tiv], adjective
• sub·orner noun
• unsub·orned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of suborn¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin subornāre “to instigate secretly, prepare clandestinely,” originally, “to supply,” equivalent to sub-, preposition and prefix + ornāre “to equip,” from an assumed ordnāre, a derivative of the noun ordō (stem ordin- ) “line, row, rank, grade”; sub-, order

Word History and Origins

Origin of suborn¹

C16: from Latin subornāre, from sub- secretly + ornāre to furnish

Example Sentences

These perfect servants never make a mistake and they cannot be suborned.

From Popular-Science

This time, the heirs of the Confederacy have learned that is more effective to suborn the government than secede.

From The Daily Beast

By rejecting this last attempt to suborn a dereliction of duty, Henry saved my reputation, my honor, my life, really.

From The Daily Beast

If Blondel tampered with any one, he would naturally, if he knew aught of the house, suborn Claude or Anne.

From Project Gutenberg

Was there no postman or postmaster whom he could suborn to intercept them for him?

From Project Gutenberg

Meanwhile you suborn 'unwarranted belief' by making belief a matter of reward and penalty.

From Project Gutenberg

But the audacious Lauzun found means to suborn a well-meaning simpleton of a priest, who married them secretly the very same day.

From Project Gutenberg

For this purpose, he endeavoured to suborn a poet who lived under his patronage.

From Project Gutenberg