venality
[vee-nal-i-tee, vuh-]
- the condition or quality of being venal; openness to bribery or corruption.
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Origin of venality
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for venality
Contemporary Examples
Even now, he is unwilling to take responsibility for the venality that landed him in jail.
But as Palin also demonstrated, eventually, evidence of venality and incompetence seeps in with the public at large.
On the contrary, vanity more than venality was the problem at the top in Egypt.
Historical Examples
It is but fair to say that venality is not one of the characteristics of the German bureaucracy.
England and GermanyEmile Joseph Dillon
He was furious at times with the venality of his associates.
The Life of Napoleon BonaparteWilliam Milligan Sloane
I was charged with indifference, with cowardice, with venality.
The Spectre In The CartThomas Nelson Page
For all the venality of Europe was not confined to the Continent.
History of the United Netherlands, 1600-09, Vol. IV. CompleteJohn Lothrop Motley
Its uncleanness lacked the element of venality; that was all that could be said.
The CreatorsMay Sinclair
Word Origin and History for venality
n.
1610s, from French vénalité or directly from Late Latin venalitatem (nominative venalitas) "capable of being bought," from venalis (see venal).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper