A bribe is money or something valuable given to influenceto affect how a person thinks, decides, or behaves someone’s actions dishonestlyin a way that is not honest or truthful. It can also mean to pay someone in that way. The word is usually used for illegal or unethicalnot morally acceptable or following good principles payments, especially when someone in a position of trust is being influenced.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /braɪb/
Easy pronunciation: BRIBE (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, so it is fully stressed.
Noun: money or something valuable given to influence someone dishonestly.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Bribe Meaning
money or a gift used to persuade someone to do something unfair or illegal
Part of speech: noun
Definition: Money or something valuable given to influence a person’s judgment or actions dishonestly.
Example: The official was arrested for taking a bribe.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- payoff — A common noun for a dishonest payment intended to influence someone.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Bribe
Meaning 2
to pay someone dishonestly to get what you want
Part of speech: verb
Definition: To make illegal or dishonest payments to someone in order to get favors or influence.
Example: He tried to bribe the guard to let him in.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- buy — Used in the sense of 'buy off,' but by itself it is less precise and can sound too broad.
- corrupt — Can work in this sense, especially for influencing officials, but it is broader than bribe.
- grease one's palms — An idiomatic synonym meaning to pay someone a bribe.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Bribe Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- payoff
verb: to pay someone dishonestly for favors or influence
- buy
- corrupt
- grease one's palms
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse bribe with a legal payment or a tip.
- Bribe usually implies dishonesty, corruption, or an attempt to influence someone unfairly.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does bribe mean?
A bribe is money or something valuable given to influence someone’s actions dishonestly. It can also mean to pay someone in that way.
What is a synonym for bribe?
For the noun, a strong synonym is payoff. For the verb, close synonyms include grease one's palms and, in some contexts, corrupt.
Is a bribe always illegal?
Not always in every legal system, but the word usually refers to an illegal or unethical payment intended to influence someone unfairly.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
