Corrupt

Definition

Corrupt refers to something or someone that has been morally debased, or made unethical or dishonest. It can describe individuals, institutions, or systems that have deviated from integrity, as well as data or files that have become damaged or altered in an unauthorized way.

Parts of Speech

• Adjective
• Verb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /kəˈrʌpt/
• Respelling: kuh-RUHPT

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /kəˈrʌpt/
• Respelling: kuh-RUHPT

The pronunciation of "corrupt" is the same in both American and British English, though there may be slight variations in the regional accent.

Etymology

The word "corrupt" is derived from the Latin word "corruptus," meaning "broken" or "destroyed." It is composed of "com-" (altogether) and "rumpere" (to break). It entered Middle English in the 14th century, initially referring to moral corruption or the deterioration of something, and over time it expanded to cover unethical behavior and technical failures.

Derivatives

• Corruption (noun)
• Corruptible (adjective)
• Corruptor (noun)
• Corrupted (adjective)
• Incorrigible (adjective)

Synonyms

• Dishonest
• Unethical
• Debased

Antonyms

• Honest
• Ethical
• Virtuous

Usage

The word "corrupt" is frequently used in legal, political, and ethical contexts to describe individuals, organizations, or systems that engage in dishonest or fraudulent behavior. For example, "The politician was removed from office due to corrupt practices," or "The file became corrupt and could not be opened." It can be applied to both abstract ideas, such as corruption in society, or tangible things, such as damaged digital files.

Related Terms

• Fraud: Deceit or trickery, often for financial gain.
• Bribery: The act of giving or receiving something of value to influence someone's actions.
• Degradation: The process of declining in quality or moral standing.

Detailed Definitions

Adjective

• Lacking integrity; dishonesty or moral decay: Refers to someone or something that has been compromised in its ethical standards or has become morally debased.
  • Example: "The corrupt official accepted bribes from the contractors."
• In computing, data or files that have become altered or damaged: Refers to technical failure in digital storage or transfer.
  • Example: "The document was corrupt and could not be opened by the system."

Verb

• To cause someone or something to become dishonest or morally compromised: Refers to the act of inducing unethical behavior in individuals or organizations.
  • Example: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
• To cause something, such as data or software, to become damaged or unusable: Refers to the process of files or programs being damaged in a digital environment.
  • Example: "A virus corrupted the system, leading to the loss of important data."