venal

Venal is an adjective describing someone or something that is susceptible to bribery or corruption, especially in public life. A venal official is willing to accept money or favors in exchange for favorable decisions, while venal practices refer to corrupting influence within a system. The term often implies a moral fault, though it can also be used descriptively in historical or analytical writing to signal a pattern of corruption. The word comes from Latin venalis, meaning for sale, from venum, sale or merchandise. The English usage dates from the 16th century. Venality emphasizes a predisposition to corruption rather than a single act, and it is commonly applied to politicians, judges, or administrators, as in venal officials or venal practices. It should not be confused with venial, which means minor or excusable wrongdoing. Related terms include venality, bribery, corruption, and graft, with incorruptible being the opposite. Some procurement processes have been described as venal when decisions appeared to favor contractors with paid influence, and in critiques of government venality is cited as a factor that undermines trust in institutions.