Corruption
The natural result of unaccountable power โ personal gain at another's expense. Can be private, public, or institutional.
How We Say It
kษยทrupยทshษn
Where It Comes From
Latin corruptio โ destruction, decay. From corrumpere โ to break to pieces, spoil. From com- (intensive) + rumpere (to break). Originally physical decay โ rotting matter โ before extending to moral and political senses. The metaphor of political corruption as decay is built into the word.
How It's Been Used
Classified by transparency advocates into petty corruption, grand corruption (state capture by elites), and political corruption. Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index has measured the phenomenon since 1995. What counts as corruption versus normal political influence varies by jurisdiction โ campaign contributions in the U.S. would be bribery in many systems.