| Noun | 1. | corruption - lack of integrity or honesty (especially susceptibility to bribery); use of a position of trust for dishonest gain infection - moral corruption or contamination; "ambitious men are led astray by an infection that is almost unavoidable" venality - prostitution of talents or offices or services for reward dishonesty - the quality of being dishonest jobbery - corruptness among public officials |
| 2. | corruption - in a state of progressive putrefaction putrefaction, rot - a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor | |
| 3. | corruption - decay of matter (as by rot or oxidation) decay - the process of gradually becoming inferior | |
| 4. | corruption - moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles; "the luxury and corruption among the upper classes"; "moral degeneracy followed intellectual degeneration"; "its brothels, its opium parlors, its depravity"; "Rome had fallen into moral putrefaction" immorality - the quality of not being in accord with standards of right or good conduct; "the immorality of basing the defense of the West on the threat of mutual assured destruction" | |
| 5. | corruption - destroying someone's (or some group's) honesty or loyalty; undermining moral integrity; "corruption of a minor"; "the big city's subversion of rural innocence" degradation, debasement - changing to a lower state (a less respected state) | |
| 6. | corruption - inducement (as of a public official) by improper means (as bribery) to violate duty (as by commiting a felony); "he was held on charges of corruption and racketeering" inducing, inducement - act of bringing about a desired result; "inducement of sleep" |