C1adjective1K

Corrupt

UK /["/kəˈrʌpt/"]/US /["/kəˈrʌpt/"]/

Definition

willing to use their power to do dishonest or illegal things in return for money or to get an advantage

In simple words: to make something bad or to change it for the worse

Examples

  • It was seen as the only way to overthrow a corrupt regime.
  • They promised to seek out the corrupt officials who had accepted the bribes.
  • one of the most notoriously corrupt city councils
  • They had been engaged in corrupt practices.
  • The whole system is inefficient and corrupt.
  • corrupt software
  • The file on the disk seems to be corrupt.

Usage notes

Use 'corrupt' when discussing moral decay, dishonest actions, or when something is damaged. It's usually inappropriate in casual conversations unless discussing politics or crime.

Grammar pattern

corrupt + object

Memory hint

Think 'cor-rupt' like a 'corrupted' computer file that no longer works.

Collocations

  • be
  • become
  • hopelessly
  • thoroughly
  • totally
  • be
  • become
  • hopelessly
  • thoroughly
  • totally

Synonyms

  • deprave
  • bribe
  • vitiate
  • infect
  • spoil

Antonyms

  • honest
  • pure
  • correct

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'correction' when talking about changes.
  • Using 'corrupt' as a noun instead of an adjective or verb.
  • Overusing 'corrupt' when 'taint' or 'spoil' might be more appropriate.