Bribe Meaning
/bɹaɪb/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounSomething (usually money) given in exchange for influence or as an inducement to breaking the law.
nounThe act of offering or paying such a payment: an act of bribery.
Sentence Examples
Mr Koop would be the last person to take a bribe.
The mayor denied having taken a bribe.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The corrupt official tried to ____ the inspector to ignore the safety violations.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He was caught trying to ____ the official to get the permit faster.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English bribe, from Old French briber (“go begging”), from the noun bribe (“a gift”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The bribes I took did not influence me to become evil. I was evil from the beginning and the bribes were merely a bonus"
— 2024 June 17, @InternetHippo, Twitter, archived from the original on 29 Jun 2024:
"Not the bribes of sordid wealth can seduce to leave these everblooming sweets."
— 1744, Mark Akenside, The Pleasures of the Imagination:
"Remy, this was a bribe! Our whole marriage has been nothing but a series of bribes!"
— 1974, George Fox, Mario Puzo, Earthquake:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The corrupt official tried to ____ the inspector to ignore the safety violations.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He was caught trying to ____ the official to get the permit faster.