Words / B2

BRYB/braɪb/

A bribe is money or a gift given to influence someone illegally: take a bribe, offer a bribe. Backhander is informal British; incentive is legal and open. Bribe is also a verb; bribery is the crime. In speech, illegal payment to influence is the gloss. A bribe is corrupt. Do not call a thank-you box of biscuits a bribe unless you mean the accusation.

Meaning

Money or a gift given to influence someone illegally.

Examples

• “The official was accused of taking a bribe.”
• “The inquiry asked who had offered the bribe, not only who had taken it.”
• “Refusing the bribe still meant extra security for the family for a month.”

Good to know

Illegal gift/money to influence. Verb: bribe. Crime: bribery. Informal BrE: backhander. Contrast: a legal incentive / a thank-you gift.

Near in meaning

backhander

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