Nota: A tradução desta entrada está atualmente em revisão de qualidade, portanto parte do conteúdo é exibida temporariamente apenas em inglês.
Este verbete ainda não foi traduzido para o seu idioma, portanto o original é exibido abaixo.
venal
This term describes a specific type of corruption where integrity is traded for financial gain. It carries a heavy tone of moral bankruptcy and is almost exclusively used in political, legal, or official contexts to describe people in positions of power who treat their public duty as a commodity for sale.
It is frequently confused with "vileness" or "venial," but while "venial" refers to a minor, forgivable sin, "venal" refers to a systemic lack of ethics. The word evokes an image of a transactional betrayal of trust, where the individual is not merely greedy but actively available for purchase.
Meanings
Examples
The city was run by a venal administration that sold permits to the highest bidder.
He is far too venal to be trusted with the treasury.
I cannot believe the judge is so venal that he would take a bribe to dismiss the case.
The regime was notorious for its venal officials and systemic graft.
Is every politician in this town just as venal as the last one?
She realized her boss was a venal man who would betray any colleague for a bonus.
The venal nature of the court made a fair trial impossible.
They are simply venal mercenaries disguised as public servants.