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Added 4 October 2026

bribe

/bɹaɪb/ noun

In Latin: ēmercātiō Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about bribe at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Something (usually money) given in exchange for influence or as an inducement to breaking the law.
The act of offering or paying such a payment: an act of bribery.
That which seduces; seduction; allurement.

verb

To give a bribe to; specifically, to ask a person to do something against their original will, in exchange for some type of reward or relief from potential trouble.
She was accused of trying to bribe the jury into making false statements.
To gain by a bribe; to induce as by a bribe.
to bribe somebody's compliance

Origin

From Middle English bribe, from Old French briber (“go begging”), from the noun bribe (“a gift”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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