corrupt Meaning & Definition
What Does Corrupt Mean?
As a verb, corrupt means to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions. It is also used to mean bribe. As an adjective, it means morally degenerate and perverted.
Corrupt: Key Facts
| Part of speech | verb, adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /kə-ˈrəpt/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | sordid, depraved and vitiate |
| Antonyms | straight, incorrupt and pure |
| Comparative / superlative | more corrupt, most corrupt |
| Verb forms | corrupts, corrupting, corrupted |
| Adverb | corruptibly |
Corrupt Definition (Verb)
- to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions
Officials were corrupted by greed. / was accused of corrupting the youth
- bribe
- to degrade with unsound principles or moral values
Some fear the merger will corrupt the competitive marketplace.
- rot, spoil
The fruits were transported without being corrupted.
- to subject (a person) to corruption of blood
- to alter from the original or correct form or version
The file was corrupted.
- to become tainted or rotten
leaving the bodies to corrupt on the field
- to become morally debased
- to cause disintegration or ruin
Corrupt as an Adjective
- morally degenerate and perverted : depraved
- characterized by improper conduct (such as bribery or the selling of favors)
corrupt judges
- putrid, tainted
- adulterated or debased by change from an original or correct condition
a corrupt version of the text
Synonyms of Corrupt
Antonyms of Corrupt
Corrupt in a Sentence
The government here is corrupt, so we'll emigrate to escape them.
The text of the manuscript is corrupt.
It turned out that the program was corrupt - that's why it wouldn't open.
Don't you dare corrupt my son with those disgusting pictures!
Unplugging a flash drive without dismounting it first can corrupt the data stored on the drive.
to corrupt language, or a holy text
to corrupt a book
Officials were corrupted by greed.
was accused of corrupting the youth
Some fear the merger will corrupt the competitive marketplace.
The fruits were transported without being corrupted.
The file was corrupted.
leaving the bodies to corrupt on the field
corrupt judges
a corrupt version of the text
corrupt businessmen who are out to fleece the public
corrupt business practices that should be investigated
a dead mouse corrupting in the walls produced a terrible smell
some observers believe that grossly violent movies corrupt the people who watch them as well as the people who make them
he bragged about having corrupted half of the officials on the city council
Officials were corrupted by greed. / was accused of corrupting the youth
Word Forms & Grammar
cor·rupt·ed
cor·rupt·ing
cor·rupts
cor·rupt·er noun
cor·rupt·ibil·i·ty noun
cor·rupt·ible adjective
cor·rupt·ibly adverb
corrupt
corrupted
corrupter
corrupters
corruptibilities
corruptibility
corruptible
corruptibly
corrupting
corruptor
corruptors
corrupts
cor·rupt·ly adverb
cor·rupt·ness noun
corruptest
corruptly
corruptness
corruptnesses
corrupt (comparative more corrupt, superlative most corrupt)
corrupt (third-person singular simple present corrupts, present participle corrupting, simple past and past participle corrupted)
Words That Rhyme With Corrupt
Origin of Corrupt
Origin 1: Middle English, from Latin corruptus, past participle of corrumpere, from com- + rumpere to break reave
Origin 2: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin corruptus see corrupt:1
Origin 3: From Middle English corrupten, derived from Latin corruptus, past participle of corrumpō (“to destroy, ruin, injure, spoil, corrupt, bribe”), from com- (“together”) + rumpō (“to break in pieces”).
First Known Use
14th centuryt
14th century
How Do You Say Corrupt?
Corrupt is pronounced /kə-ˈrəpt/ and has 2 syllables, with the main stress on the second syllable (rəpt).
Corrupt: Your Questions Answered
Is corrupt a verb or an adjective?
Corrupt is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as an adjective.
What is another word for corrupt?
Words with a similar meaning to corrupt include sordid, depraved and vitiate. See the full list of corrupt synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of corrupt?
Antonyms of corrupt include straight, incorrupt, pure and uncorrupt.
What is the past tense of corrupt?
The past tense of corrupt is corrupted. The present participle is corrupting.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of corrupt?
The comparative form is more corrupt and the superlative form is most corrupt.