What Is Bribe? Definition And Usage Of This Term

WHAT IS BRIBE – In this topic, we will first know the definition of the term “bribe” and how is this term used in sentences.

Definition

The Oxford Dictionary described this term as the following:

persuade (someone) to act in one’s favor, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement.
a sum of money or other inducement offered or given to bribe someone.

On the other hand, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines this term as the following:

money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust
something that serves to induce or influence
to influence the judgment or conduct of (someone) with or as if with offers of money or favor : to induce or influence by or as if by bribery

Synonyms

Here are the following synonyms of this term:

Synonyms
- buy off
- pay off
- suborn
- corrupt
- get at
- fix
- square
- corrupt
- give someone a backhander
- nobble

Etymology

The term came from the Old French terms briber or brimber which means “beg”. Its original sense was “rob or extort”.

Examples

Here are some of the examples:

I offered the children a bribe for finishing their homework.
The money was to be obtained in order to bribe the German electors.
In 776, Mandi constrained him for a large bribe to renounce his right of succession in favour of his sons, Musa and Harun.
To them Alexius, son of the deposed Isaac, made appeal, promising as a crowning bribe to heal the schism of East and West if they would help him to depose his uncle.