ve·nal

[veen-l]
adjective
1.
willing to sell one's influence, especially in return for a bribe; open to bribery; mercenary: a venal judge.
2.
able to be purchased, as by a bribe: venal acquittals.
3.
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

ve·nal·ly, adverb
non·ve·nal, adjective
non·ve·nal·ly, adverb
un·ve·nal, adjective

venal, venial.


1. bribable, corruptible. See corrupt.


1. incorruptible.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary
venal (ˈviːnəl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  easily bribed or corrupted; mercenary: a venal magistrate
2.  characterized by corruption: a venal civilization
3.  open to purchase, esp by bribery: a venal contract
 
[C17: from Latin vēnālis, from vēnum sale]
 
venality
 
n
 
'venally
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

venal
1650s, "offered for sale, capable of being obtained for a price," from Fr. vénal, from L. venalis "that is for sale," from venum (nom. *venus) "for sale," from PIE base *wes- "to buy, sell" (cf. Skt. vasnah "purchase money," vasnam "reward," vasnayati "he bargains, haggles;" Gk. onos "price paid,
purchase," oneisthai "to buy").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
The courage politicians organize their energies by picking fights with venal
  foes.
Looking at what consumers can do to avoid being bitten twice first by the
  vermin and then by a venal exterminator.
The same cunning maidservant outwits another foolish and venal official.
It's all well and good to rail about evil chemical companies or venal
  politicians.
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