corrupción
Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery.
Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Dishonest behavior by people in positions of power.
- Usually involves bribery or illegal gain.
- A major social and political issue.
Summary
Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.
- Dishonest behavior by people in positions of power.
- Usually involves bribery or illegal gain.
- A major social and political issue.
Use with strong verbs
Pair 'corrupción' with verbs like 'combatir' or 'erradicar' to sound more professional. This is common in news reports and formal essays.
Don't confuse with decay
While 'corrupción' can mean physical decay in some contexts, it is rarely used that way today. Stick to the social and legal meaning.
A global concern
In many Spanish-speaking countries, this is a central topic of public discourse. Understanding this word is essential for reading local newspapers.
Examples
4 of 4La corrupción afecta el desarrollo del país.
Corruption affects the country's development.
Se han descubierto graves casos de corrupción en la empresa.
Serious cases of corruption have been discovered in the company.
Ese político es un corrupto.
That politician is corrupt.
La corrupción sistémica debilita las instituciones democráticas.
Systemic corruption weakens democratic institutions.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a 'corrupt' person as someone whose character has 'rotted' from the inside. The root 'rupt' implies breaking the rules.
Overview
La palabra 'corrupción' proviene del latín 'corruptio' y se refiere a la alteración, el deterioro o la perversión de algo que originalmente era bueno o íntegro. En el lenguaje cotidiano, se emplea para denunciar prácticas fraudulentas donde alguien con poder traiciona la confianza pública para lucrarse de manera ilícita.
Usage Patterns
Es un sustantivo femenino y se usa comúnmente con verbos como 'luchar contra', 'denunciar' o 'combatir'. También es frecuente escuchar 'casos de corrupción' o 'niveles de corrupción' al hablar de la situación de un país o institución.
Common Contexts
Se utiliza mucho en las noticias, discursos políticos y debates sobre ética. Por ejemplo, cuando un funcionario público acepta dinero para favorecer a una empresa, se dice que ha cometido un acto de corrupción. También se aplica en el ámbito privado cuando hay fraude en una empresa.
Similar Words Comparison
A diferencia de 'soborno' (que es el pago ilegal en sí), la 'corrupción' es el concepto amplio que engloba ese acto. Mientras que 'fraude' se enfoca en el engaño contable o legal, la corrupción pone el énfasis en la pérdida de valores y la traición a la confianza delegada por la sociedad.
Usage Notes
This word is almost exclusively used in formal or serious contexts. It is a heavy word that carries significant negative weight in Spanish. Do not use it lightly in casual conversation unless discussing serious news.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 'corrupción' to mean 'decay' of objects, which is archaic. Stick to the social/political meaning. Also, remember it is a feminine noun.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'corrupt' person as someone whose character has 'rotted' from the inside. The root 'rupt' implies breaking the rules.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'corruptio', from 'corrumpere', meaning 'to break into pieces' or 'to destroy'. It reflects the idea of breaking moral or legal standards.
Cultural Context
Corruption is a sensitive and frequent topic in Latin American and Spanish politics. It is often the central theme in election campaigns and journalistic investigations.
Examples
La corrupción afecta el desarrollo del país.
everydayCorruption affects the country's development.
Se han descubierto graves casos de corrupción en la empresa.
formalSerious cases of corruption have been discovered in the company.
Ese político es un corrupto.
informalThat politician is corrupt.
La corrupción sistémica debilita las instituciones democráticas.
academicSystemic corruption weakens democratic institutions.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
tolerancia cero a la corrupción
zero tolerance for corruption
esquemas de corrupción
corruption schemes
Often Confused With
A bribe is a specific transaction or gift, while corruption is the broader behavior of being dishonest.
Fraud usually implies a specific act of deception or trickery, often financial, while corruption implies a betrayal of public trust.
Grammar Patterns
Use with strong verbs
Pair 'corrupción' with verbs like 'combatir' or 'erradicar' to sound more professional. This is common in news reports and formal essays.
Don't confuse with decay
While 'corrupción' can mean physical decay in some contexts, it is rarely used that way today. Stick to the social and legal meaning.
A global concern
In many Spanish-speaking countries, this is a central topic of public discourse. Understanding this word is essential for reading local newspapers.
Test Yourself
Completa la oración con la palabra correcta.
El gobierno ha prometido luchar contra la ___ en todas sus instituciones.
El contexto de 'luchar contra' indica que se refiere a un problema negativo.
Score: /1
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsAunque se asocia frecuentemente con el gobierno, también ocurre en el sector privado, en los deportes y en cualquier organización donde alguien abuse de su posición.
A esa persona se le llama 'corrupto' o 'corrupta'. Es un adjetivo que describe a quien participa en actos deshonestos.
El soborno es una acción específica de dar o recibir dinero ilegalmente, mientras que la corrupción es el sistema o la conducta general de deshonestidad.
Sí, se dice 'las corrupciones' cuando se hace referencia a múltiples actos o tipos de prácticas deshonestas en diferentes áreas.
Related Grammar Rules
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