Set 13 · Study 1 / 5

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corruption

noun/kəˈrəpʃən/

definition

unethical or illegal behaviour especially by people in official positions

example

It was argued that the president was formerly arrested on charges of corruption and abuse of power.

synonyms
dishonestymisconductwrongdoing
word origin — Middle English: via Old French from Latin corruptio(n-), from corrumpere ‘mar, bribe, destroy’ (see corrupt)

Upper-Intermediate — Set 13

Set 13 of Upper-Intermediate covers 5 words: corruption, disgrace, bankrupt, fraud, accountability. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. corruption · noun/kəˈrəpʃən/

    unethical or illegal behaviour especially by people in official positions

    It was argued that the president was formerly arrested on charges of corruption and abuse of power.

    Synonyms: dishonesty, misconduct, wrongdoing

    Origin: Middle English: via Old French from Latin corruptio(n-), from corrumpere ‘mar, bribe, destroy’ (see corrupt)

  2. disgrace · noun/dɪsˈɡreɪs/

    a loss of others' respect as a result of doing something bad

    The leader's indifference to the suffering population was a complete disgrace to humanity.

    Synonyms: dishonor, shame, discredit, disrepute, embarrassment

    Origin: mid 16th century (as a verb): via French from Italian disgrazia (noun), disgraziare (verb), from dis- (expressing reversal) + Latin gratia ‘grace’

  3. bankrupt · adjective/ˈbæŋkrəpt/

    having no money to pay debts

    The country's second-largest airline was declared bankrupt yesterday, nearly two years after a tragic crash in the Indian Ocean.

    Synonyms: penniless, broke, insolvent

    Origin: mid 16th century: from Italian banca rotta ‘broken bench’, from banca (see bank) and rompere ‘to break’. The change in the ending was due to association with Latin rupt- ‘broken’

  4. fraud · noun/frɔd/

    a person who deceives others for personal gain

    After searching for his profile online and discovering he was a fraud, they handed him over to the police.

    Synonyms: conman, pretender, charlatan, impostor

    Origin: Middle English: from Old French fraude, from Latin fraus, fraud- ‘deceit, injury’

  5. accountability · noun/əˌkaʊn(t)əˈbɪlədi/

    the condition of being responsible for your actions

    The manager took accountability for the project's delay, accepting responsibility for the team's oversight.

    Synonyms: liability, responsibility