Definition

1. Noun:
   • The quality of being open to bribery or corruption; the state of being willing to use one's position or influence dishonestly for personal gain, especially monetary reward. This refers to a characteristic of individuals or systems where integrity is compromised for money or other benefits.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The investigation revealed the shocking venality of several city officials.
  • Historical accounts often criticize the venality of the court during that era.
  • The journalist wrote an exposé on the political venality that was crippling the nation's development.

Advanced Usage

• "The venality of the system": This phrase is often used to describe institutional or systemic corruption where bribery and dishonest favor-trading are commonplace.
  • Reforms aimed to dismantle the deep-seated venality of the old regime.
• Used in formal, often critical, contexts to discuss political, judicial, or bureaucratic corruption.

Variants and Related Words

• Venal (adj): Describes a person or action characterized by or open to bribery.
  • The venal judge was removed from the bench.
• Corruption (n): A broader term for dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, often involving bribery. Venality is a specific form of corruption.
• Graft (n): The acquisition of money, gain, or advantage by dishonest, unfair, or illegal means, especially through the abuse of one's position.

Synonyms

• Corruptibility: Susceptibility to being corrupted, especially by bribery.
• Bribery: The act of giving or receiving something of value to influence action. (Venality is the of being susceptible to this).
• Dishonesty: Lack of honesty or integrity.

Related Phrases

• "A venal official": A common collocation describing a corrupt public servant.
  • The scandal centered on a network of venal officials.
• "Venal motives": Describes actions driven by the desire for bribes or illicit financial gain.
  • His support for the policy was based on venal motives, not public interest.

Related Idioms

• "To have one's price": This idiom conveys a similar idea to venality, suggesting someone can be bribed or persuaded if the reward is sufficient.
  • He claimed to be a man of principle, but everyone suspected he had his price.

Noun

1. prostitution of talents or offices or services for reward