What does venality mean?
Venality means corruption in the use of public authority, especially when officials accept bribes, payments, or other inducements in exchange for decisions that should serve the public. The word is formal, strongly condemnatory, and most common in political, legal, and civic contexts, though it can describe corruption in any institution entrusted with a public duty. It differs from ordinary dishonesty by highlighting the abuse of entrusted power rather than merely deceptive personal behavior. Venality may refer both to a condition within a system and to individual corrupt acts, as when a report condemns the venality of judges or the political venality of a government. Although the abstract noun is usually singular, plural forms such as venalities are grammatically possible. The related adjective venal describes someone or something open to bribery, while venally means in a corrupt or venal manner. Venality remains a forceful choice because it names not just misconduct but the conversion of public responsibility into personal advantage.
nounVenality is the corrupt practice of using public office or public trust for private gain, especially by accepting bribes or other inducements. It also denotes the quality or condition of being corrupt in this way.
- The fact or practice of corruption, especially the use of public office for private gain through bribery or similar inducements.
"The investigation exposed the venality of officials who had accepted payment in exchange for favorable decisions."
"Civic activists called for an end to the venality that had spread through the local government."
"Her novel portrays the venality of judges who sell their authority to the highest bidder."
The plural is grammatical but uncommon; venality is normally used as an abstract singular noun.
"The author uses the plural venalities to characterize the political system as a whole."
Venality turns public office into a private market: the word descends from the same Latin root for “sale” that underpins our word vendor.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does venality come from?
Venality comes through Old French from Latin venalitas, meaning sale or the condition of being for sale. Its roots lie in venum, “sale,” and venalis, “for sale” or “open to bribery,” which also produced venal. Cognates such as venation, vendor, and vendition preserve the same broad idea of sale or selling. In English, the word developed into a term for corruption involving the selling of public offices or favors.
Related word forms
How venality is actually used
Venality is a formal and strongly critical term, used especially for corruption connected with government, public institutions, or official duties. It is more accusatory than the broader word corruption and commonly implies bribery or betrayal of a public trust.
Easily confused with venality
Venality names the corrupt practice or condition, whereas venal describes a person or thing willing to be influenced by bribery or personal gain.