cor·rup·tion (kə-rŭp'shən)
n.

1. The act or process of corrupting.
2. The state of being corrupt.

2. Decay; rot.
3. Archaic. Something that corrupts.

cor·rupt (kə-rŭpt')
adj.

1. Marked by immorality and perversion; depraved.
2. Venal; dishonest: a corrupt mayor.
3. Containing errors or alterations, as a text: a corrupt translation.
4. Archaic. Tainted; putrid.

v., -rupt·ed, -rupt·ing, -rupts.

v.tr.

1. To destroy or subvert the honesty or integrity of.
2. To ruin morally; pervert.
3. To taint; contaminate.
4. To cause to become rotten; spoil.
5. To change the original form of (a text, for example).
6. Computer Science. To damage (data) in a file or on a disk.

v.intr.

To become corrupt.

[Middle English, from Latin corruptus, past participle of corrumpere, to destroy : com-, intensive pref.; see com– + rumpere, to break.]

cor·rupt'er or cor·rup'tor n.
cor·rup'tive adj.
cor·rupt'ly adv.
cor·rupt'ness n.

SYNONYMS  corrupt, debase, debauch, deprave, pervert, vitiate. These verbs mean to ruin utterly in character or quality: was corrupted by limitless power; debased himself by pleading with the captors; a youth debauched by drugs and drink; indulgence that depraves the moral fiber; perverted her talent by putting it to evil purposes; a proof vitiated by a serious omission.