bribery

In one sentence

Offering money or favors to someone in power to influence their official actions.

Plain English

Bribery is a crime where you give (or offer to give) something of value—money, gifts, favors, or benefits—to a public official or person in a position of authority to get them to do something improper in their official role. It can also apply to private contexts, like bribing a sports official. Both the person offering the bribe and the person accepting it can be prosecuted.

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Example

A contractor offers a city inspector $5,000 to overlook building code violations in a construction project. This is bribery. If the inspector accepts, both the contractor and the inspector have committed a crime, even if the inspector never actually overlooks the violations.

Used in a sentence

“The executive was convicted of bribery for paying a government official to award a lucrative contract to his company.”

Related terms

Duress

Forcing someone to sign a contract through threats or coercion.

Fraudulent Misrepresentation

A deliberate false statement made with intent to deceive and cause harm.

Good Faith

An obligation to act honestly and fairly in performing or enforcing a contract.

Contempt of Court

Willful disobedience or disrespect toward a court or judge that disrupts justice.

domestic violence

Criminal conduct involving abuse between intimate partners, family members, or household members.

Stand Your Ground

A law allowing a person to use force, including deadly force, to defend themselves without a duty to retreat.

Castle Doctrine

A law stating that a person's home is their castle and they can use force to defend it without duty to retreat.

Expungement

A legal process that erases or seals a criminal conviction from your record.

This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney.