Corrupt

Corrupt is a word with several related meanings in English. As an adjective, it describes someone or something that has become morally depraved or dishonest, or something that has been damaged or compromised, such as a corrupt file or a corrupt procedure. As a verb, it means to cause someone to behave dishonestly or immorally, or to cause something to lose its integrity by alteration or contamination. In computing, data corruption refers to the unintended or malicious alteration of information, which can render a file unusable or misleading.

As a noun, corruption denotes the act or result of corrupting. In political and public administration contexts, corruption involves the abuse of entrusted power for private gain, often through bribery, fraud, embezzlement, or patronage. It ranges from petty corruption, such as small favors in exchange for influence, to grand corruption that involves large sums and systemic practices. Causes can include weak governance, lack of transparency, inadequate accountability, and insufficient legal protections. The consequences include inefficiency, misallocation of resources, distorted decision-making, and a loss of public trust.

Origins of the word trace back to the Latin corruptus, the past participle of corrumpere, meaning broken or spoiled. The term is used across ethics, law, politics, and information technology, reflecting concepts of decay, degradation, and the undermining of integrity. See also corruption, corrupt, and anti-corruption efforts.