rupt-, -rupting, -ruption

1. To destroy or subvert the honesty or integrity of.
2. To ruin morally; to pervert.
3. To taint; to contaminate.
4. To cause to become rotten; to spoil.
5. To change the original form of; for example, a text.
6. In Computer Science: To damage (data) in a file or on a disk.

1. Marked by immorality and perversion; depraved; perverted; wicked; evil: "The war in several countries have some of the most corrupted conditions for its citizens."
2. Guilty of dishonest practices; such as, bribery; lacking integrity; crooked: "A corrupted judge ruled in favor of one of the worst politicians ever known."
3. Made inferior or containing errors, misinterpretations, or incorrect alterations: "The author was accused of having a corrupted translation of the book."
4. Etymology: from Latin corruptus, past participle of corrumpere, "to destroy, to spoil, to bribe"; from com-, "together" + rup-, past participle stem of rumpere, "to break".

Someone who vitiates (reduces the quality of) or produces unacceptable result: "The teacher was accused of being a corrupter of the results of the national test results of his students by raising their scores."

The quality of being corruptible; the possibility or liability of being corrupted; corruptibleness.

1. Capable of being corrupted, or morally vitiated; susceptible of depravation.
2. Capable of being made corrupt; subject to decay.
3. That which may decay and perish; such as, the human body or any other natural creature, plant, fruit, etc.

1. The act or process of corrupting.
2. The state of being corrupt.
3. Decay; rot.
4. Etymologically the word "corruption" comes from the Latin verb corruptus "to break"; past participle of corrumpere "to destroy" [com-, "together with", intensive prefix + rumpere, "to break"].

Conceptually, corruption is a form of behavior, which departs from ethics, morality, tradition, law, and civic virtue.

Extended definitions and examples

• Lack of integrity or honesty (especially susceptibility to bribery); use of a position of trust for dishonest gain [syn: corruptness] [ant: incorruptness].
• In a state of progressive putrefaction [syn: putrescence, putridness, rottenness].
• Decay of matter; as by rot or oxidation.
• Moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles: "the luxury and corruption among the upper classes"; "moral degeneracy followed intellectual degeneration"; "its brothels; its opium parlors; its depravity" [syn: degeneracy, depravity].
• Destroying someone's (or some group's) honesty or loyalty; undermining moral integrity: "corruption of a minor"; "the big city's subversion of rural innocence" [syn: subversion].
• Inducement (as of a public official) by improper means (as bribery) to violate duty (as by committing a felony): "He was held on charges of corruption and racketeering."

One who defends or practices corruption, particularly in politics.

1. Tending to corrupt or pervert.
2. Having a bad effect on someone's character or behavior.

Not susceptible to corruption or decay; incorruptible.

In a corrupt manner; by means of corruption or corrupting influences; wrongfully.

To ruin utterly in character or quality: was corrupted by limitless power; debased himself by pleading with his captors; a youth debauched by drugs and drink; indulgence that depraves the moral fiber; perverted her talent by putting it to evil purposes; a proof vitiated by a serious omission.

A woman who corrupts.

1. To throw into confusion, turmoil, or disorder: "Protesters disrupted the candidate's speech."
2. To interrupt, destroy (usually temporarily), or to impede the progress, movement, or procedure of: "Our efforts in the garden were disrupted by an early frost."

"The silence in the library was disrupted when a shelf full of books fell on the floor."

3. To break apart, to disrupt a connection, or to burst: "