venal

See also: vénal

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈviːnəl/
• Rhymes: -iːnəl

Etymology 1

From Latin vēna (“vein”) + -al.

Adjective

venal (comparative more venal, superlative most venal)

1. Venous; pertaining to veins.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from French vénal, from Old French venel, from Latin vēnālis (“for sale”), from vēnum (“something for sale”); compare vend.

Adjective

venal (comparative more venal, superlative most venal)

1. (archaic) For sale; available for purchase.
2. Of a position, privilege etc.: available for purchase rather than assigned on merit.
   • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin 2003, p. 140:

     Thus, regimental commands in the army were – as with the judiciary or the financial bureaucracy – venal posts, which were purchased, bequeathed and sold among the nobility.

3. Capable of being bought (of a person); willing to take bribes.
4. (of behaviour etc.) Corrupt, mercenary.
   • 1785, The Times, 9 Feb 1785, page 1, column C:

     Though there is a disposition in mankind, to declaim against the corruption and peculation of the present times, as being more venal than formerly; yet, if we look back to different periods, we shall find statesmen and politicians, as selfish and corrupt, (...) as those who have lately figured on the political stage.

Usage notes

Do not confuse venal behavior (bribery/corruption) with venial behavior (mildly wrong behavior).

Synonyms

• (for sale): purchasable
• (willing to take bribes): crooked

Antonyms

• (willing to take bribes): straight, honest, uncorrupt

Related terms

• venally

Translations

for sale, available for a price

• Finnish: myytävänä
• French: vénal (fr)
• Greek: παραδόπιστος (el) m (paradópistos), αργυρώνητος (el) m (argyrónitos), εξαγοράσιμος (el) m (exagorásimos)

• Latin: vēnālis, nummarius m
• Spanish: venal (es)

willing to take bribes

• Dutch: omkoopbaar (nl)
• Finnish: lahjottavissa oleva, korruptoitunut
• French: vénal (fr)
• Georgian: ანგარებიანი (angarebiani), მოსყიდული (mosq̇iduli), მექრთამე (mekrtame), დაქრთამული (dakrtamuli)
• German: käuflich (de)

• Greek: αργυρώνητος (el) m (argyrónitos), δωροδοκούμενος m (dorodokoúmenos)
• Latin: venalis m, f, venale n, venale n
• Russian: прода́жный (ru) (prodážnyj)
• Spanish: venal (es)
• Swedish: mutbar

corrupt, mercenary

• French: vénal (fr)
• Greek: παραδόπιστος (el) m (paradópistos), αργυρώνητος (el) m (argyrónitos)
• Italian: venale (it)

• Latin: venalis m, f, venale n, nummarius m, nummaria, nummarium
• Spanish: venal (es)
• Swedish: korrumperad (sv)

Anagrams

• Alven, Levan, elvan, levan, navel

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Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /beˈnal/

Etymology 1

From vena +‎ -al.

Adjective

venal (plural venales)

1. venous

Synonyms

• venoso

Etymology 2

From Latin vēnālis (“for sale”), from vēnum (“something for sale”).

Adjective

venal (plural venales)

1. venal, corruptible
2. sellable