bribe
n. · v.-
1 illegal payment (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Lawmoney or a gift given to someone to make them do something dishonest or illegal.
a sum of money or other inducement offered or given to a person in a position of trust to influence their behaviour or decisions.
ExampleThe official was arrested for accepting a bribe from the construction company.
ExampleThe investigation revealed that the contractor had offered a substantial bribe to the planning committee in exchange for expedited approval of the project.
UsageCommonly used with the verbs 'offer', 'give', 'take', or 'accept'.
- payoff
- kickback
- inducement
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2 to give an illegal payment (v.) B2 Upper Intermediate Lawto give someone money or a gift so they will do what you want, even if it is wrong.
to persuade someone to act in one's favour, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement.
ExampleThey tried to bribe the guard to let them into the building after hours.
ExampleThe corporation was accused of attempting to bribe foreign officials to secure lucrative mining contracts in the region.
UsageThis is a transitive verb that takes the person being influenced as the direct object.
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3 to persuade with a small reward (v.) B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Humorousto offer someone a small treat or reward to make them do something they do not want to do.
to use a minor incentive to persuade someone—often a child—to perform a task or behave in a certain way.
ExampleI had to bribe my son with an ice cream to get him to finish his homework.
ExampleThe parents joked that they had to bribe their toddler with extra screen time just to get through the long flight without a tantrum.
Teacher's tipWhile the primary sense is serious and legal, this informal use is very common in family or social contexts to describe harmless persuasion.
From Middle English bribe, from Old French briber (“go begging”), from the noun bribe (“a gift”).
- Nounbribe
- Nounbribery