bought
v. · adj.-
1 past tense of buy (v.) A1 Beginnerthe past form of 'buy'. You use this to say you paid for something in the past.
the past tense and past participle of 'buy'. It is a transitive verb requiring a direct object representing the item or service acquired.
ExampleI bought some fresh bread and milk from the shop this morning.
ExampleShe bought the property at the height of the market, unaware that prices were about to drop significantly across the region.
PitfallI have buyed a new car.I have bought a new car.The verb 'buy' is irregular. Do not add '-ed'; use 'bought' for both the past simple and the past participle.
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2 corrupt or controlled by money (adj.) C1 Advanced Informal Politicsused to describe a person, like a politician, who is dishonest because they take money to do what someone else wants.
describing a person or organisation whose loyalty or services have been purchased, typically implying corruption or a loss of independence.
ExampleMany voters believe the local council is bought and paid for by big developers.
ExampleThe investigative journalist argued that the senator was a bought man, citing numerous campaign contributions from the very industry he was supposed to regulate.
See buy.
From Middle English bought, bowght, bouȝt, *buȝt, probably an alteration of bight, biȝt, byȝt (“bend, bight”) after bowen, buwen, buȝen (“to bow, bend”). Cognate with Scots boucht, bucht, bout (“bend”). More at bight and bout.