bribe

Pronunciation

• enPR: brīb, IPA ^(key): /braɪb/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular bribe

Plural bribes

1. (countable) A bribe is a reward that is given to someone, so that they do something they normally would not. It's different from payment in that a bribe is usually for something illegal, or against some rules.

   He gave the judge a bribe so that he would win the contest.

Verb

Plain form bribe

Third-person singular bribes

Past tense bribed

Past participle bribed

Present participle bribing

1. When you bribe someone, you give a reward so that they do something they normally wouldn't.

   Allegations that the police were bribed to cover up the investigation surfaced after the event.

Related words

• bribery