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1. Lack of integrity or honesty (especially susceptibility to bribery); use of a position of trust for dishonest gain
   - corruptness
    
2. In a state of progressive putrefaction
   - putrescence, putridness, rottenness
    
3. Decay of matter (as by rot or oxidation)
    
4. Moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles
   "the luxury and corruption among the upper classes";
   - degeneracy, depravation, depravity, putrefaction
    
5. Destroying someone's (or some group's) honesty or loyalty; undermining moral integrity
   "corruption of a minor";
   - subversion
    
6. Inducement (as of a public official) by improper means (as bribery) to violate duty (as by committing a felony)
   "he was held on charges of corruption and racketeering"
    
7. (linguistics) a word adopted from another language in an altered form

Derived forms: corruptions

See also: corrupt, incorrupt

Type of: debasement, decay, degradation, dishonesty, immorality, inducement, inducing, putrefaction, rot

Antonym: incorruptness

Encyclopedia: Corruption