a. : dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people (such as government officials or police officers) : depravity. b. : inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means (such as bribery) the corruption of government officials.

Bibliography: United Nations. 2003. “United Nations Convention Against Corruption.” Treaty Series 2349 (October): 41.

Defined as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain, corruption manifests in various forms, from bribery and embezzlement to nepotism and cronyism. Its detrimental effects are felt in both developed and developing nations, hindering progress, impeding development, and perpetuating poverty.

Corruption can take many forms that vary in degree from the minor use of influence to institutionalized bribery. Transparency International's definition of corruption is "the abuse of entrusted power for private gain". This can mean not only financial gain but also non-financial advantages.