1
: money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust
police officers accused of taking bribes
2
: something that serves to induce or influence
offered the kid a bribe to finish his homework
bribed; bribing
: to influence the judgment or conduct of (someone) with or as if with offers of money or favor : to induce or influence by or as if by bribery
attempting to bribe a judge
bribing a child with candy
: to practice bribery
Examples of bribe in a Sentence
Noun
I offered the children a bribe for finishing their homework.
that judge refused a huge bribe to dismiss the charges against the wealthy defendant
Verb
She was arrested for attempting to bribe a judge.
They bribed him to keep quiet about the incident.
We bribed the children with candy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
Given Paramount’s recent capitulation to President Trump in the CBS News lawsuit, the Writers Guild of America has significant concerns that The Late Show’s cancellation is a bribe, sacrificing free speech to curry favor with the Trump Administration as the company looks for merger approval.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 22 July 2025
Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 10 July 2025
In earlier testimony, a Los Angeles hotel employee said Combs bribed him for a video, published by CNN last year, that depicts Combs attacking Ventura in the hotel’s hallway.
—Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bribe
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Noun
Singer took in more than $25 million from his clients as part of the scheme, paid bribes totaling more than $7 million and used more than $15 million for his own benefit, according to prosecutors.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
Given Paramount’s recent capitulation to President Trump in the CBS News lawsuit, the Writers Guild of America has significant concerns that The Late Show’s cancellation is a bribe, sacrificing free speech to curry favor with the Trump Administration as the company looks for merger approval.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 22 July 2025
Verb
On the other hand, Piña was charged with two counts of wire fraud, two counts of money laundering, one count of conspiracy and one count of bribing a public official.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 10 July 2025
In earlier testimony, a Los Angeles hotel employee said Combs bribed him for a video, published by CNN last year, that depicts Combs attacking Ventura in the hotel’s hallway.
—Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bribe
Cite this Entry
“Bribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bribe. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bribe
1 of 2 noun
: something given or promised to a person in order to influence a decision or action dishonestly
bribe
2 of 2 verb
bribed; bribing
: to influence or try to influence by a bribe
briber
noun
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