1
: money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust
police officers accused of taking bribes
2
: something that serves to induce or influence
offered the kid a bribe to finish his homework
bribed; bribing
: 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
attempting to bribe a judge
bribing a child with candy
: to practice bribery
Examples of bribe in a Sentence
Noun
I offered the children a bribe for finishing their homework.
that judge refused a huge bribe to dismiss the charges against the wealthy defendant
Verb
She was arrested for attempting to bribe a judge.
They bribed him to keep quiet about the incident.
We bribed the children with candy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Brian Bennett, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025
The Public Integrity Section is responsible for bringing high profile cases against public officials who are accused of accepting bribes or flouting election laws.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 12 Mar. 2025
Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Feb. 2025
In addition, longtime Coral Gables police officer Edwin Pagan III, a deputized DEA agent, was charged in November with playing a supporting role in the conspiracy to bribe Costanzo with tens of thousands of dollars for access to confidential information about drug-trafficking suspects.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bribe
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Noun
Porteous was convicted by the Senate in December 2010 on charges of accepting bribes and making false statements under penalty of perjury.
Rep.
—Brian Bennett, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025
The Public Integrity Section is responsible for bringing high profile cases against public officials who are accused of accepting bribes or flouting election laws.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
Since 1977, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) has prohibited U.S. companies and individuals from bribing foreign officials to gain a business advantage.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Feb. 2025
In addition, longtime Coral Gables police officer Edwin Pagan III, a deputized DEA agent, was charged in November with playing a supporting role in the conspiracy to bribe Costanzo with tens of thousands of dollars for access to confidential information about drug-trafficking suspects.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bribe
Articles Related to bribe
Cite this Entry
“Bribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bribe. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bribe
1 of 2 noun
: something given or promised to a person in order to influence a decision or action dishonestly
bribe
2 of 2 verb
bribed; bribing
: to influence or try to influence by a bribe
briber
noun
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