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bribery

/ˈbraɪbəri/
/ˈbraɪbəri/
IPA guide

Other forms: briberies

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.

Definitions of bribery
  1. noun
    the practice of offering something (usually money) in order to gain an illicit advantage
    synonyms: graft
    see moresee less
    types:
    barratry
    the crime of a judge whose judgment is influenced by bribery
    commercial bribery
    bribery of a purchasing agent in order to induce the agent to enter into a transaction
    type of:
    felony
    a serious crime (such as murder or arson)
Pronunciation
US
/ˈbraɪbəri/
UK
/ˈbraɪbəri/
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