Basic Details
Word: Corrupt
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Dishonest, especially by using power to get money or favours; as a verb, to make someone or something dishonest or damaged.
Synonyms: dishonest, crooked, unethical
Antonyms: honest, upright, ethical
How to Spell Corrupt
Syllables: cor - rupt
Tricky part: There is a double r, and the end is -upt with a p before the t. Students write corupt or leave out the p.
Watch out for: corupt, currupt, corrup, corrput
Memory tip: Rupt means break, as in erupt and interrupt. Something corrupt has broken its honesty: cor + rupt, two r's where they meet.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The corrupt official was caught taking a bribe.
Example 2: Too much power can corrupt even a good leader.
Example 3: A dishonest referee is as corrupt as a dishonest judge.
Fun Fact
Computer files can also be called corrupt when their data has been damaged, for example by a power cut while saving, so they will not open properly.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word corrupt as used in the sentence:
The corrupt officer demanded money before he would sign the farmer's papers.
a) greedy
b) dishonest
c) crooked
d) honest
Show answer
d) honest. Dishonest, greedy and crooked all describe the officer; honest is the quality he lacks.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
co_ru_t
a) r, p
b) r, b
c) a, p
d) u, p
Show answer
a) r, p. Two r's meet in the middle, and the break word rupt ends in pt.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The film shows how a bookie tried to rcuptor a young bowler with costly gifts.
a) corrode
b) courier
c) corrupt
d) correct
Show answer
c) corrupt. The jumble has u, p and t, and only corrupt contains all three.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which act is an example of corruption?
a) reporting a pothole to the council
b) returning a lost wallet to its owner
c) paying an official to skip the queue
d) waiting patiently in the queue
Show answer
c) paying an official to skip the queue
2. The saying 'Power tends to corrupt' means that power ____.
a) makes people stronger
b) disappears with time
c) can make people dishonest
d) is always shared fairly
Show answer
c) can make people dishonest
