Corrupt means dishonest and willing to use power or position for personal gain, especially by breaking rules or laws that are supposed to protect others. A corrupt police officer might take bribes to ignore crimes. A corrupt politician might steer government contracts to friends in exchange for money. A corrupt judge might rule in favor of whoever pays them the most.

When someone is corrupt, they've let greed or selfishness override their duty to do what's right. Think of a referee who's supposed to make fair calls but instead helps one team win because that team's coach promised money. The referee has become corrupt because he's betrayed the trust people placed in him.

Corruption spreads like rot in wood: it weakens everything it touches. When corruption takes hold in a government, police force, or business, honest people stop trusting the system. Citizens wonder if laws apply equally to everyone. Students wonder if grades reflect real achievement or favoritism.

The word can also describe something spoiled or decayed, like corrupt food or a corrupt computer file that no longer works properly. In both cases, something that should work correctly has been damaged or ruined. A person's character can become corrupt the same way: the integrity and honesty that should guide their choices gets eaten away by selfishness until they can no longer be trusted to do the right thing.