corruptible

Corruptible is an adjective that denotes susceptibility to corruption. It can describe a person or institution likely to be swayed by bribery, gifts, or other improper influence. It may also refer to the tendency of a system, process, or object to be spoiled or damaged by external agents. In ethical, political, and organizational discussions, the term underscores weakness in integrity or safeguards against undue influence.

Etymology and usage notes: corruptibilis is from Latin corrumpere, meaning to spoil or ruin, with the suffix -bilis indicating capability. The term’s related forms include corrupt, corruption, and the negation incorruptible, which can refer to something not subject to decay or not susceptible to corruption in moral or ethical contexts.

Contexts and nuance: in practice, corruptible is most often applied to people who accept bribes or favors, or to institutions with weak controls that allow favoritism, nepotism, or fraud. It can also describe systemic vulnerability to unethical influence rather than a single act. In philosophical or religious contexts, incorruptible is used to denote moral integrity or something that does not decay; corruptible emphasizes the tendency toward decline.

See also: incorruptible, integrity, corruption, bribery, governance, ethics.