What does venally mean?
Venally is a formal adverb meaning in a corrupt manner, especially through bribery or the exchange of money for official decisions. It is derived from venal, an adjective describing conduct that is open to corruption because it can be purchased. Typical uses describe a decision, contract, official, or entire proceeding as venally influenced or corrupt, making clear that personal or organizational gain motivated supposedly impartial judgment. The word is chiefly encountered in legal, political, and journalistic writing rather than everyday conversation. Because venally specifically evokes bribery, it is stronger than simply unethical and should not be used loosely for every kind of dishonest behavior. Despite sounding old-fashioned, it remains precise and forceful: it identifies not merely bad conduct but conduct shaped by what someone could pay. Venally is therefore useful in discussions of public office, procurement, conflicts of interest, and corruption, where the source of the distortion matters.
adverbIn a corrupt manner, especially by accepting bribes or allowing money to influence one's judgment or official conduct.
- In a corrupt manner, especially by accepting bribes or allowing money to influence judgment or official conduct.
"The report concluded that the minister had acted venally by accepting payments in exchange for favorable decisions."
"The report concluded that the minister had acted venally by accepting payments in exchange for favorable decisions."
"Prosecutors alleged that the permits had been issued venally in exchange for undisclosed payments."
Venally turns bribery into a business model: money becomes the hidden price of an official decision.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of venally
Venally was formed in English with the suffix -ly from the adjective venal. Venal was borrowed from Latin venalis, meaning 'for sale' or 'purchasable,' from venum, 'sale'; its figurative sense developed to mean open to bribery or corruption. Latin vendere, 'to sell,' belongs to the same commercial family and is the source of vend, vendor, vendible, and vendition.
Related word forms
How venally is actually used
Formal and relatively uncommon, especially in legal, political, and journalistic prose. It normally implies bribery or corruption for money, rather than unethical conduct in general, and can sound deliberately accusatory.
Easily confused with venally
Venally is the adverb meaning 'in a corrupt manner,' whereas venal is the adjective describing conduct or a person that can be corrupted by bribery.
Venerable means respected because of age, wisdom, or distinguished service, while venally means corruptly or through bribery.