venality means the fact or state of being for sale, especially with reference to bribes or corruption. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 83 out of 100.
Why this word is great
VENALITY — [Noun] The condition of being susceptible to bribery or corruption, especially in a position of power or trust. From French vénalité or Latin vēnālitās, from vēnālis ("for sale, venal"), itself from vēnum ("sale"). Unlike corruption, a murky swamp of systemic decay, or greed, a raw and indiscriminate hunger, venality is the precise, transactional surrender of integrity for currency. It is the judge’s imperceptible nod, the inspector’s averted gaze, the politician’s sudden change of heart after a discreet lunch—a quiet calculus that converts public trust into a private ledger, proving everything has a price, especially what we claim is priceless.
noun
- The fact or state of being for sale, especially with reference to bribes or corruption.“1785, The Times, 17 Jan 1785, p.1 col. B
As your spirited paper has declared war, not only against venality and despotism, but was intended to correct follies and abuses in private life, I hope the following will come within its useful plan.”