French word

soudoyer

Pronunciation

IPA/sudwaje/

Meaning

  • verbbribe

Example

Il a tenté de soudoyer le directeur.

He tried to bribe the director.

Illustration for soudoyer (bribe)

More examples

Il a donné de l'argent pour soudoyer un policier.

He gave money to bribe a police officer.

Core concept

A material reward used as an illicit lever on someone entrusted with a decision or service.

Common phrases

  • soudoyer un policier

    bribe a police officer

  • soudoyer un témoin

    bribe a witness

Similar words

donner un pot-de-vin: Give someone a bribe to influence them in your favor.
corrompre: Undermine someone's morals or judgment with money or gifts, leading to wrongdoing.
graisser la patte: Bribe someone, in casual terms, to act in your favor.

Definition in French

Offrir ou promettre un avantage matériel pour influencer illégalement une personne chargée d'une décision ou d'un service.

Word origin

Soudoyer is inherited from Old French soudoier and belongs to the historical family of words for pay, including French solde.

Usage tips

  • In present-tense forms, the spelling changes before a mute ending: je soudoie but nous soudoyons.

Related words

  • soudoyeurbribernoun

Word lists with this word