venality

UK: /viːˈnælɪtɪ/ US: /viˈnælɪti/ ,(vē nal′i tē, və-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ve•nal•i•ty  (vē nal′i tē, və-), n. 

1. the condition or quality of being venal;
   openness to bribery or corruption.

• Late Latin vēnālitas. See venal, -ity
• 1605–15

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ve•nal /ˈvinəl/   adj. 

1. willing to accept bribery or to be corrupt:
   a venal judge.
2. able to be purchased, as by a bribe:
   venal acquittals.

ve•nal•i•ty /viˈnælɪti/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ve•nal  (vēn′l), adj. 

1. willing to sell one's influence, esp. in return for a bribe;
   open to bribery;
   mercenary:
   a venal judge.
2. able to be purchased, as by a bribe:
   venal acquittals.
3. associated with or characterized by bribery:
   a venal administration; venal agreements.

• Latin vēnālis, equivalent. to vēn(um) (accusative) for sale (compare vend) + -ālis -al¹
• 1645–55

ve′nal•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. bribable, corruptible. See corrupt. 

Antonyms

• 1. incorruptible.