bribe
BRYBE
/braɪb/
Money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust.
Directly offering something valuable in exchange for illegal or dishonest favor.
The story behind the word. In Old French, a 'bribe' originally meant a piece of bread given as alms to a beggar. Over time, corrupt officials began taking 'crumbs' or small payments to grant favors, morphing the term into its modern sinister meaning.
Word relationships
- payoff: Payoff is more informal and can refer to any illicit gain or settlement.
- backhand payment: Emphasizes the secretive, under-the-table nature of the transaction.
- honest fee: Refers to legitimate payment for services rendered.
Commonly confused with
- extortion: A bribe is usually offered voluntarily for mutual gain, whereas extortion uses force or threats.
Word family
- bribery (noun): The crime of offering or receiving bribes.
Collocations
- accept a bribe
- solicit a bribe
- bribe an official
- offer a bribe
Idioms & expressions
- grease someone's palm
Example sentences
- "The corrupt official was caught on tape accepting a cash bribe from the construction developer." Legal Proceedings
- "A bribe is a gift given to influence a recipient's conduct." Literary Citation
Memory hook
Think of paying a BRIB-E to get into the VIP section. A palm-greasing payoff.
When not to use
Do not confuse with a legitimate tip or campaign contribution given without explicit quid-pro-quo.
Fun facts
- In ancient Rome, bribing voters was called 'ambitus', literally 'walking around' to buy votes.
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