Bribe

/bɹaɪb/ · noun

Meaning

Something (usually money) given in exchange for influence or as an inducement to breaking the law..

Definitions by Sense

1. Something (usually money) given in exchange for influence or as an inducement to breaking the law.
2. The act of offering or paying such a payment: an act of bribery.
3. That which seduces; seduction; allurement.
4. (transitive) To give a bribe to; specifically, to ask a person to do something against their original will, in exchange for some type of reward or relief from potential trouble.
5. (transitive) To gain by a bribe; to induce as by a bribe.

Example Sentences

c. 1613-1625, Henry Hobart, Yardly v. Ellill Undue reward for anything against justice is a bribe.

The bribes I took did not influence me to become evil. I was evil from the beginning and the bribes were merely a bonus

Not the bribes of sordid wealth can seduce to leave these everblooming sweets.

Remy, this was a bribe! Our whole marriage has been nothing but a series of bribes!

She was accused of trying to bribe the jury into making false statements.

October 23, 1848, Frederick William Robertson, an address delivered at the Opening of The Working Men's Institute Neither is he worthy who bribes a man to vote against his conscience.

to bribe somebody's compliance

Synonyms for bribe

Antonyms for bribe

Related Words

Word Forms

• bribes
• bribing
• bribed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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