bribery

noun

brib·​ery ˈbrī-b(ə-)rē How to pronounce bribery (audio)
plural briberies
: the act or practice of giving or taking a bribe

Examples of bribery in a Sentence

They were arrested on charges of bribery.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His attorneys, David Markus and Anita Margot Moss, are asking the judge to dismiss counts 3 and 4 for sports bribery and honest services fraud. — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 31 July 2026 Federal prosecutors appear to be amassing a wide-ranging list of likely witnesses to take the stand in October when ex-Mayor Sheng Thao and three co-defendants face a criminal trial for charges of bribery and conspiracy. — Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 31 July 2026 Abdikerm Eidleh faces 31 charges including wire fraud, federal programs bribery and money laundering. — Wcco Staff, CBS News, 31 July 2026 The letter promised an additional $20 million in funds for countries that accept, which sound something like bribery, dare say flat-out payment for a yes vote. — Miami Herald, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bribery

Word History

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bribery was in 1560

Browse Nearby Words

briber
bribery
Bribri
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Cite this Entry

“Bribery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bribery. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bribery

noun
brib·​ery ˈbrī-b(ə-)rē How to pronounce bribery (audio)
plural briberies
: the act or practice of bribing

Legal Definition

bribery

noun
brib·​ery
plural briberies
: the crime of giving or taking a bribe

More from Merriam-Webster on bribery

Nglish: Translation of bribery for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bribery

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