bribe

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /bɹaɪb/ See IPA manual

Freq #6078

Meanings

1

verb
To secretly give someone money or gifts so they will do something dishonest for you.

He tried to bribe the police officer to ignore the speeding ticket.
2

noun
Money or a gift given secretly to persuade someone to act dishonestly.

The official was arrested for accepting a bribe from the developer.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to secretly give someone... corrupt

2 noun · money or a gift given... payoff

More backhanderbung dashdouceurinducement pay-offpayolasubornationsweetener

Word family

Forms bribedbribesbribing

Derived forms bribablebribeebribelessbribeproofbriberbriberybribetakerbribetakingoutbribeoverbriberebribeunbribed

Related forms corrupt greed spoils venal

Etymology

From Middle English bribe, from Old French briber (“go begging”), from the noun bribe (“a gift”).

bribe Middle English briber Old French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# bribe

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /bɹaɪb/
**Frequency rank:** 6078

## Meanings
1. To secretly give someone money or gifts so they will do something dishonest for you.
2. Money or a gift given secretly to persuade someone to act dishonestly.

## Examples
- He tried to bribe the police officer to ignore the speeding ticket.
- The official was arrested for accepting a bribe from the developer.

## Synonyms
- backhander
- bung
- dash
- douceur
- inducement
- pay-off
- payola
- subornation
- sweetener

## Derived Forms
- bribable
- bribee
- bribeless
- bribeproof
- briber
- bribery
- bribetaker
- bribetaking
- outbribe
- overbribe
- rebribe
- unbribed

## Related Forms
- corrupt
- greed
- spoils
- venal

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: bribe
- Root: briber

## Etymology
From Middle English bribe, from Old French briber (“go begging”), from the noun bribe (“a gift”).

## AI Etymology
Bribe is from Middle English bribe, from Old French briber (“go begging”), from the noun bribe (“a gift”). In present-day use, it can mean to secretly give someone money or gifts so they will do something dishonest for you, or money or a gift given secretly to persuade someone to act dishonestly. Related forms include corrupt, greed, spoils, venal. Derived formations include bribable, bribee, bribeless, bribeproof, briber.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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