French word

corruption

Pronunciation

IPA/koʁypsjɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncorruption

Example

La corruption affaiblit la démocratie.

Corruption weakens democracy.

Illustration for corruption (corruption)

More examples

La corruption coûte cher aux citoyens.

Corruption is costly for citizens.

Core concept

A public system eaten away by hidden self-interest until its rules and values no longer work.

Common phrases

  • lutte contre la corruption

    struggle against corruption

  • affaire de corruption

    corruption case

  • mettre fin à la corruption

    bring an end to corruption

Similar words

fraude: Obtaining money, property, or profit through deception or other false means.
détournement: Illegally taking work-related funds or property for personal use.
pot-de-vin: A secret payment or gift offered to induce a particular act.
favoritisme: Preferentially granting public positions or opportunities to people with personal connections.

Definition in French

Détérioration ou affaiblissement moral d'une personne, d'une organisation ou d'un système, impliquant souvent fraude ou manquements éthiques.

Word origin

The noun came through Old French from Latin corruptio, linked to corrumpere, meaning 'to spoil or ruin', and extended from material damage to ethical decay.

Usage tips

  • La corruption can refer specifically to bribery in political or administrative contexts, so surrounding context shows whether the focus is conduct or broader institutional decline.

Other meanings

  • decaynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • corromprecorruptverb
  • corrompucorruptadjective
  • corruptibleopen to briberyadjective

Word lists with this word