corruption

Universal Words noun 1 [U] dishonest or illegal behaviour, especially of people in authority: allegations of bribery and corruption * The new district attorney has promised to fight police corruption. 2 [U] the act or effect of making sb change from moral to immoral standards of behaviour: He claimed that sex and violence on TV led to the corruption of young people. 3 [C,usually sing.] the form of a word or phrase that has become changed from its original form in some way: The word 'holiday' is a corruption of 'holy day'.