venality

American  

[vee-nal-i-tee, vuh-] / viˈnæl ɪ ti, və- /

noun

1. the condition or quality of being venal; openness to bribery or corruption.

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Etymology

Origin of venality

From the Late Latin word vēnālitas, dating back to 1605–15. See venal, -ity

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Explanation

Venality is the quality of being open to bribery or overly motivated by money. A government worker's venality might lead him to exchange state secrets for cash. Criminals are known for their venality, being willing to break the law for a financial reward. This kind of venality can vary from police officers accepting bribes to politicians making decisions and passing laws based on campaign contributions. The Late Latin root word is venalitatem, "capable of being bought," from venum, "for sale."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

venality

More broadly the play is a tart vivisection of human pettiness and venality, as one by one the characters’ prejudices, peccadilloes and blinkered views are exposed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026

For many in the troubled North African nation of some 7 million, the dams’ disintegration has become a symbol of both the dysfunction and venality of Libya’s political class.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2023

Landlords are opposed to this and other measures and not out of venality.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 3, 2023

Silverio responds with a tirade about the venality and hypocrisy of a media that sacrifices integrity and decency on the altar of ratings and social media likes.

From New York Times ● Nov. 3, 2022

Santiago, piqued because he had spent so much time away from that place, took the initiative in demanding a judicial investigation of his conduct, charging him with venality and peculations.

From The History of Cuba, vol. 1 by Willis Fletcher Johnson

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