corrupted; corrupting; corrupts
1
a
: to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions
Officials were corrupted by greed.
was accused of corrupting the youth
also
: bribe
b
: to degrade with unsound principles or moral values
Some fear the merger will corrupt the competitive marketplace.
3
: to subject (a person) to corruption of blood
4
: to alter from the original or correct form or version
The file was corrupted.
1
a
: to become tainted or rotten
leaving the bodies to corrupt on the field
b
: to become morally debased
2
: to cause disintegration or ruin
1
a
: morally degenerate and perverted : depraved
b
: characterized by improper conduct (such as bribery or the selling of favors)
corrupt judges
3
: adulterated or debased by change from an original or correct condition
a corrupt version of the text
Synonyms
Verb
- break down
- decay
- decompose
- disintegrate
- fester
- foul
- mold
- molder
- perish [chiefly British]
- putrefy
- rot
- spoil
Adjective
Examples of corrupt in a Sentence
Verb
a politician corrupted by greed
music that corrupts the morals of children
corrupting the country's legal system
the corrupting influence of power
Their idealism has been corrupted by cynicism.
The file has been corrupted and no longer works properly.
a corrupted version of the ancient text
Adjective
The country's justice system is riddled with corrupt judges who accept bribes.
corrupt cops who sell drugs
the country's corrupt legal system
a corrupt version of the text
a corrupt computer file that no longer works properly
Recent Examples on the Web
David Catlin, The Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2024
The movie is a lark, not a hard-hitting statement about how mass media corrupts the soul.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Olivers’s just another dastardly king en route to his castle, corrupted by excess.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2024
Despite the fact that the show’s key arcs are simple and familiar things — the scholarship students will change St. Gilbert’s, but not if St. Gilbert’s doesn’t corrupt them first — the handling of time and character evolution in Boarders is bizarrely choppy and frequently inconsistent.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024
Military patrols assigned to destroy crop fields can easily get corrupted by drug money.
—Alma Guillermoprieto, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
That has corrupted the entire industry and generated the multitude of useless journals.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 17 Feb. 2024
The system runs on money and money corrupts most politicians.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Feb. 2024
Even our Elections will be corrupted and under siege.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024
Chris Mueller, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
Biden is certainly seen as much more too old than Trump is, but Trump is seen as more corrupt and doesn't have the right temperament to be president.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024
Approaching retirement after a dissatisfying career, Ronnie Monroy finds new purpose at a women’s prison, but his motives turn out to be corrupt.
—Liz Rothaus Betrand, Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2024
That Netanyahu is personally corrupt is not altogether novel in the history of the Israeli prime ministership.
—Anshel Pfeffer, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2024
With the Supreme Court predicting the end of the monopoly of college amateurism, the recent termination of the monopoly on real estate agent commissions seems an apt analogy for a deeply entrenched American institution that is fundamentally corrupt.
—Guy Lawson, Rolling Stone, 24 Mar. 2024
From 2017 to 2019, Derek was under attack by a rogue police chief and corrupt mayor, who frankly, deserve to be in prison.
—The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2024
After dark, rock groups and rappers perform on the street, liter-bottles of lager circulate and attendees sometimes pelt images of (allegedly) corrupt politicians with red paint.
—Laurence Blair, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
The Kings have already made self-referential shows about lawyers and cops and priests and senators, dramas and satires and erotic thrillers about the lofty and corrupt institutions that structure our world.
—Phillip MacIak, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
Their journey into darkness is a violent portrayal of unchecked ambition and the corrupting influence of power.
—David Catlin, The Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2024
The movie is a lark, not a hard-hitting statement about how mass media corrupts the soul.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Olivers’s just another dastardly king en route to his castle, corrupted by excess.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2024
Despite the fact that the show’s key arcs are simple and familiar things — the scholarship students will change St. Gilbert’s, but not if St. Gilbert’s doesn’t corrupt them first — the handling of time and character evolution in Boarders is bizarrely choppy and frequently inconsistent.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024
Military patrols assigned to destroy crop fields can easily get corrupted by drug money.
—Alma Guillermoprieto, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
That has corrupted the entire industry and generated the multitude of useless journals.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 17 Feb. 2024
The system runs on money and money corrupts most politicians.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Feb. 2024
Even our Elections will be corrupted and under siege.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Some commenters took this as proof the case against Trump was corrupt.
—Chris Mueller, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
Biden is certainly seen as much more too old than Trump is, but Trump is seen as more corrupt and doesn't have the right temperament to be president.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024
Approaching retirement after a dissatisfying career, Ronnie Monroy finds new purpose at a women’s prison, but his motives turn out to be corrupt.
—Liz Rothaus Betrand, Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2024
That Netanyahu is personally corrupt is not altogether novel in the history of the Israeli prime ministership.
—Anshel Pfeffer, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2024
With the Supreme Court predicting the end of the monopoly of college amateurism, the recent termination of the monopoly on real estate agent commissions seems an apt analogy for a deeply entrenched American institution that is fundamentally corrupt.
—Guy Lawson, Rolling Stone, 24 Mar. 2024
From 2017 to 2019, Derek was under attack by a rogue police chief and corrupt mayor, who frankly, deserve to be in prison.
—The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2024
After dark, rock groups and rappers perform on the street, liter-bottles of lager circulate and attendees sometimes pelt images of (allegedly) corrupt politicians with red paint.
—Laurence Blair, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
The Kings have already made self-referential shows about lawyers and cops and priests and senators, dramas and satires and erotic thrillers about the lofty and corrupt institutions that structure our world.
—Phillip MacIak, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'corrupt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Latin corruptus, past participle of corrumpere, from com- + rumpere to break — more at reave
Adjective
Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin corruptus — see corrupt entry 1
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of corrupt was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near corrupt
Cite this Entry
“Corrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corrupt. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
corrupt
1 of 2 verb
cor·rupt
kə-ˈrəpt 
1
: to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions
especially
: to influence a public official improperly
3
: to change from the original or correct form or version
corrupt a text
4
: to become debased
corrupt
2 of 2 adjective1
: morally corrupted : depraved
2
: characterized by improper conduct
a corrupt government
Legal Definition
corrupt
1 of 2 adjective
cor·rupt
kə-ˈrəpt
: having an unlawful or evil motive
especially
: characterized by improper and usually unlawful conduct intended to secure a benefit for oneself or another (as by taking or giving bribes)
corruptly
adjective
corruptness
noun
corrupt
2 of 2 transitive verb1
: to change from good to bad in principles or moral values
corrupting a minor
2
: to subject (a person) to corruption of blood
corruptibly
adverb
More from Merriam-Webster on corrupt
Nglish: Translation of corrupt for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of corrupt for Arabic Speakers
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