venal

[veen-l] /ˈvin l/

adjective

willing to sell one's influence, especially in return for a bribe; open to bribery; mercenary:

a venal judge.

able to be purchased, as by a bribe:

venal acquittals.

associated with or characterized by bribery:

a venal administration; venal agreements.

Origin

1645-55; < Latin vēnālis, equivalent to vēn(um) (accusative) for sale (cf. vend) + -ālis -al¹

Related forms

venally, adverb

nonvenal, adjective

nonvenally, adverb

unvenal, adjective

Can be confused

venal, venial.

Synonyms

1. bribable, corruptible. See corrupt.

Antonyms

1. incorruptible.

Examples from the web for venal

Mayors were either the venal bosses of dishonest machines or figureheads for the bosses.
It's all well and good to rail about evil chemical companies or venal politicians.
venal and inept, his government surely needs to be replaced.
Even many of his critics see him as a deluded knight-errant rather than as a venal opportunist.
Looking at what consumers can do to avoid being bitten twice first by the vermin and then by a venal exterminator.
He could try to fight impeachment in parliament, by cajoling venal politicians there.
No longer would the former general be beholden to venal political parties.
The courage politicians organize their energies by picking fights with venal foes.
Whatever sin you committed to end up in one of those must have been comparatively venal.
The same cunning maidservant outwits another foolish and venal official.

British Dictionary definitions for venal

venal

/ˈviːnəl/

adjective

easily bribed or corrupted; mercenary: a venal magistrate

characterized by corruption: a venal civilization

open to purchase, esp by bribery: a venal contract

Derived Forms

venality (viːˈnælɪtɪ) noun
venally, adverb

Word Origin

C17: from Latin vēnālis, from vēnum sale

Word Origin and History for venal

adj.

1650s, "offered for sale, capable of being obtained for a price," from French vénal, from Latin venalis "that is for sale," from venum (nominative *venus) "for sale," from PIE root *wes- "to buy, sell" (cf. Sanskrit vasnah "purchase money," vasnam "reward," vasnayati "he bargains, haggles;" Greek onos "price paid, purchase," oneisthai "to buy").