www.merriam-webster.com Open in urlscan Pro
65.9.66.14  Public Scan

Form analysis
3 forms found in the DOM

/dictionary

<form id="search-form" class="d-flex w-100 position-relative search-form" autocomplete="off" novalidate="" action="/dictionary">
  <input id="search-term" class="form-control rounded border-dark search" type="search" placeholder="Search Dictionary" aria-label="Search" value="" autocomplete="off" spellcheck="false" autocorrect="off" autocapitalize="off">
  <button id="search-close-btn" class="btn position-absolute close-button" title="close" aria-label="Close Search" type="reset">
    <svg class="align-middle" width="12" height="13" viewBox="0 0 12 13" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
      <path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd"
        d="M7.42616 6.5L11.7046 10.7785C12.0985 11.1723 12.0985 11.8108 11.7046 12.2046C11.3108 12.5985 10.6723 12.5985 10.2785 12.2046L6 7.92616L1.72153 12.2046C1.3277 12.5985 0.68919 12.5985 0.295367 12.2046C-0.0984557 11.8108 -0.0984557 11.1723 0.295367 10.7785L4.57384 6.5L0.295367 2.22153C-0.0984557 1.8277 -0.0984557 1.18919 0.295367 0.795367C0.68919 0.401544 1.3277 0.401544 1.72153 0.795367L6 5.07384L10.2785 0.795367C10.6723 0.401544 11.3108 0.401544 11.7046 0.795367C12.0985 1.18919 12.0985 1.8277 11.7046 2.22153L7.42616 6.5Z"
        fill="#97BECE"></path>
    </svg>
  </button>
  <button id="search-form-submit-btn" class="btn position-absolute search-button search-dictionary" title="Search" aria-label="Search Word" type="submit">
    <svg class="svg replaced-svg align-middle" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" width="19px" height="21px" viewBox="0 0 26 29" version="1.1">
      <g class="Search" stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd">
        <g class="g-search-icon" transform="translate(1.000000, 1.000000)" fill="#fff" fill-rule="nonzero">
          <path
            d="M17.5185815,17.4073633 L24.5896493,24.4784311 C24.9801736,24.8689554 24.9801736,25.5021204 24.5896493,25.8926447 L23.1754357,27.3068582 C22.7849114,27.6973825 22.1517464,27.6973825 21.7612221,27.3068582 L14.6901543,20.2357904 C14.29963,19.8452661 14.29963,19.2121011 14.6901543,18.8215769 L16.1043679,17.4073633 C16.4948922,17.016839 17.1280572,17.016839 17.5185815,17.4073633 Z M10.5,21 C4.70101013,21 0,16.2989899 0,10.5 C0,4.70101013 4.70101013,0 10.5,0 C16.2989899,0 21,4.70101013 21,10.5 C21,16.2989899 16.2989899,21 10.5,21 Z M10.5,18 C14.6421356,18 18,14.6421356 18,10.5 C18,6.35786438 14.6421356,3 10.5,3 C6.35786438,3 3,6.35786438 3,10.5 C3,14.6421356 6.35786438,18 10.5,18 Z"
            class="Oval"></path>
        </g>
      </g>
    </svg>
  </button>
</form>

POST /word-of-the-day

<form class="js-wod-subscribe-frm wotd-side__subscribe__form" action="/word-of-the-day" method="post">
  <input type="submit" class="wod-submit wotd-side__subscribe__form__submit" name="wod-submit" value="SUBSCRIBE">
  <input type="text" class="wod-subscribe wotd-side__subscribe__form__input" name="wod-subscribe" placeholder="Your email address" aria-label="Subscribe to Word of the Day">
</form>

<form data-medium="footer" class="footer-subscribe js-wod-subscribe-frm">
  <input class="footer-subscribe-field" type="text" name="email" value="" aria-label="Sign up for Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day newsletter" placeholder="Your email address">
  <input class="footer-subscribe-button" type="submit" name="submit" aria-label="Subscribe" value="SUBSCRIBE">
  <input class="footer-subscribe-button hidden arrow" type="submit" name="submit" value=">">
</form>

Text Content

Menu Toggle Merriam-Webster Logo


 * Games
 * Games
 * Word of the Day
 * Grammar
 * Wordplay
 * Rhymes
 * Word Finder
 * Thesaurus
 * Join MWU
 * * Shop
   * Books link icon
   * Merch link icon
 * * Settings
   * My Words
   * Recents
   * Account
   * Log Out
 * More
   
   * Thesaurus
   * Join MWU link icon
   * Shop
   * Books link icon
   * Merch link icon
      * Log In
      * Username
      * My Words
      * Recents
      * Account
      * Log Out

Est. 1828
Popular in
Obscure & Fun
Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 3
17 of the Finest Words for Drinking
Galaxy Brain: 10 Words for Deep Thoughts
Your Favorite Band is in the Dictionary
30 Ways to Tell the Future
See All
Popular in
Wordplay
The Longest Long Words List
Pilfer: How to Play and Win
15 Bird Sounds and the Birds Who Make Them
Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine
8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See All
Popular in
Grammar & Usage
Using Bullet Points ( • )
Point of View: It's Personal
31 Useful Rhetorical Devices
How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide
See All


Wordplay Obscure & Fun
Popular


12 WORDS FROM THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LAW

Crime doesn't pay, but vocabulary might


PERJURY

Definition - the act or crime of knowingly making a false statement (as about a
material matter) while under oath or bound by an affirmation or other officially
prescribed declaration that what one says, writes, or claims is true

The Latinate prefix found at the beginning of perjury (per-) may mean a number
of different things in English, such as "through," "throughout," or "containing
the largest possible or a relatively large proportion of a (specified) chemical
element especially as a result of exhaustive substitution for hydrogen or of
exhaustive addition in an organic compound or group." However, in Latin per-
could also mean "harmfully," and this is the one which is attached to perjury.
If one commits perjury one is a perjurer, the adjectival form of the word is
perjurious, and the adverb is perjuriously.

> A man once in court wouldn't tell
> the truth, and it didn't go well,
> Perjuriously
> he spoke, so you see
> he finds himself now in a cell




KICKBACK

Definition - a percentage payment exacted as a condition for granting assistance
by one in a position to open up or control a source of income or gain

Kickbacks aren't always illegal, and also do not necessarily have to refer to
money given in a quid pro quo manner. The word may refer to such things as "a
sharp violent reaction," which was commonly applied in the early 20th century to
something that automobiles occasionally would do. The monetary sense of the word
likewise dates to the first half of the 20th century, and is often applied to
the demand for money in exchange for job placement or some similar concession.

> Prushansky admitted he had taken taken in procuring "kick-backs," or portions
> of salary from other painters for a man described as Sam.
> — New York Herald Tribune, 6 Jan., 1934




LAUNDER

Definition - to transfer (money or instruments deriving from illegal activity)
so as to conceal the true nature and source

Launder has been in English as a verb since the 17th century, and despite over
350 years of common use did not pick up many figurative meanings until recently.
The 'washing' of money or funds dates to the latter half of the 20th century.
Although it had previously been speculated that this sense arose from the
Watergate investigations the word was applied to financial chicanery engaged in
by non-political criminals prior to this.

> In underworld parlance, the process is known variously as "laundering,"
> "sudsing" or "dry-cleaning" money.
> — Newsday (Long Island, NY) 6 Oct. 1967
> 
> "Normally," he explained,"payoff money is funneled into a dummy corporation,
> which pays the required corporate taxes. The remaining funds have been
> 'laundered' and are then available for use."
> — The Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 1968




EXTORTION

Definition - the act or practice of extorting especially money or other property

Extortion has an additional specific meaning: "the act or practice of extorting
by a public official acting under color of office." The word may be traced,
fittingly enough, to the Latin extortio, meaning "torture." Should you be
unfortunate enough to make the acquaintance of one who engages in this practice
you may refer to them as either an extortioner or an extortionist.

> No unrighteous person what ever, whether fornicator, adulterer, reviler,
> drunkard, covetous person, extortioner, shal inherit the kingdome of heaven:
> but I am so, and so; therefore in this estate, I shall never get heaven.
> — Robert Abbot, Foure Sermons, 1639




HUSH MONEY

Definition - money paid so that someone will keep information secret : money
that a person pays someone to hush something up

Hush money sounds like something one gives to one's children while dining out at
a fancy restaurant, in the hopes that they will be quiet and let the adults have
a conversation. While we have no evidence that this term has been used in this
fashion we also have no proof that it hasn't, so if you are in the habit of
bribing your spawn you may refer to it thusly. The commonly accepted use of the
word is fairly old, dating back to the 17th century.

> THOMAS Foster saith, that he was Coachman to Mr. Germaine, and carried the
> Dutchess of Norfolk often, about two Years since in his Coach, and brought her
> home, and the Footmen have had four Half-Crowns given them, and Martin a
> Dutchman his helper, called it Hush-Money.
> — Henry Howard, His Grace the Duke of Norfolk's Charge Against the Dutchess,
> 1692
> 
> Who are in Places we may find out, but God knows who have Pensions, yet every
> man that made the least observation can remember that some who opened loudly
> at the beginning of the last Sessions, who came up as eager as is possible for
> Reformation, had their Mouths soon stopped with Hush-money.
> — Charlwood Lawton, A Short State of our Condition,1693




RACKETEER

Definition - one who obtains money by an illegal enterprise usually involving
intimidation

A racketeer is someone who makes money through their involvement with the
rackets. There are a number of distinct meanings and senses of racket; the
racketeer one may mean either "a loud confused noise" or "a dishonest scheme for
obtaining money." The etymology of this racket is unknown, and the word does not
share an origin with the other kind, the thing you hit tennis balls and
shuttlecocks with. That one came into English from Middle French, after a long
and winding path; it is thought to have come from a modification of the Arabic
word for "wrist," rusgh.

> Argonia knows its old-time rackets and racketeers no more. They have all
> emigrated to Kansas City which emulates Chicago in energy, and excels it in
> wickedness.
> — The Atlanta Constitution, 22 Jan. 1888




BOODLE

Definition - money paid or taken for votes or political favors : bribe money

It has been said that bribe is an ugly word. We have no feelings on this matter,
but do have the desire to assist those who would prefer an alternative. Boodle
(which comes from the Dutch word boedel, meaning "estate, lot," and also serves
as the foundation for caboodle) has a softer ring to it. Furthermore, boodle can
mean "a large amount of (non-bribe) money," or "a collection or lot of people,"
so it might be used with more innocent implications.

> Many U. S. citizens are large property holders in Cuba. They have paid boodle
> to the Spanish civil authorities to escape their just share of taxation, and
> they pay boodle to the military authorities for the services of troops to
> protect their property from being burned by the rebels.
> — The Gazette (Montreal, Can.), 5 Jul. 1897




SUBORN

Definition - to induce to commit perjury; also : to obtain (perjured testimony)
from a witness

In addition to inducing perjury, suborn may have a broader meaning, such as "to
induce secretly to do an unlawful thing." The word, which comes to English from
the Latin subornare (“to secretly furnish or equip”), has been making criminal
defendants uncomfortable since the early 16th century. One who suborns is a
suborner, and an act or instance of suborning is a subornation. The word is
often used in strictly legal contexts, but may also be found used in a
figurative manner.

> To see a Gentleman of Estate, out of the Usurer's reach, and without colour of
> Exigence, not rashly, but industriously and with great ostentation of wisdom,
> for sorry pelf and lucre, expose himself, with all his hopes and advantages,
> to the venture (indeed certain mischief) of an unworthy Match; what is it but
> to be suborn'd to his own manifest wrong, and hired as it were to destroy
> himself? such errour being every way surrounded with repentance.
> — A.B., A Letter of Advice Concerning Marriage by A.B., 1676




PLEAD THE FIFTH

Definition - to refuse to answer questions in a court of law because the answers
might be harmful to one or might show that one has committed a crime

The phrase plead the Fifth (also take the Fifth), is frequently employed
figuratively, simply meaning that one declines to answer a question which might
prove in some way to be incriminating. The Fifth is the Fifth Amendment of the
U.S. Constitution, which states that citizens of the U.S. cannot be required to
give testimony that could be used against them in a court of law. Although it
may have had occasional use earlier, pleading the Fifth came into broad use
during the McCarthy hearings, when it was invoked by a number of those who
testified before the Senate.

> "I would have to say I am not a Communist party member today," replied
> Drozdoff, "nor was I during the years when I was employed in the OSS and State
> Department.Beyond that I shall have to plead the Fifth Amendment."
> — Cleveland Plain Dealer, 25 Oct. 1952




EXACTION

Definition - the levying or demanding of some benefit (such as a fee or
gratuity) that is not lawfully or properly due : extortion

The earliest sense of exaction was simply "the act or process of exacting," and
did not necessarily carry any meaning of illegality. In the early 16th century
exaction had a rough spell, made a few poor life choices, and ended up also
being nearly synonymous with extortion.

> Denied a directed verdict just before noon today, the battery of defense
> counsel for Mayor Robert R. Williams, City Commissioner John W. DuBose and
> City Rate Expert Thomas E. Grady, charged with exaction of a $250,000 bribe
> for out-of-court settlement of the electric rate litigation, were marshaling
> forces during the noon recess for opening statements to the jury this
> afternoon.
> — The Miami News (Miami, FL), 15 Nov. 1938




TAMPER

Definition - to carry on underhand or improper negotiations (as by bribery)

Tamper is believed to come from the Middle French temprer ("to temper, mix,
meddle"). One may tamper with things in a non-judicial manner ("to try foolish
or dangerous experiments"), such as when someone tampers with the lock on their
apartment house when they've lost their keys. One of the more common
applications of tamper is in relation to a witness; we've been pairing these two
words since the early 18th century.

> It is another Circumstance against a Man, to be found tampering with a
> Witness, and carries with it some Presumption of his Guilt; because no
> innocent Person wants the Aid and Assistance of a false Evidence.
> — The Tryal of Thomas Earl of Macclesfield, in the House of Peers, for High
> Crimes and Misdemeanors,1725




OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE

Definition - the crime or act of willfully interfering with the process of
justice and law especially by influencing, threatening, harming, or impeding a
witness, potential witness, juror, or judicial or legal officer or by furnishing
false information in or otherwise impeding an investigation or legal process

Obstruction of justice covers a wide range of potential misdeeds. Such charges
are often brought against a person who is believed to have lied to investigators
or prosecutors in criminal cases. Obstruction of justice charges (of both the
criminal and non-criminal variety) have played a notable part in several high
profile political scandals over the years: the Judiciary Committee of the House
of Representatives recommended this charge (along with two others) against
President Nixon in 1974, and President Clinton was impeached and tried on this
charge (along with perjury) in 1998.

> Eugene V. Debs, Fred D. Warren and J.I. Sheppard Are Charged with Obstruction
> of Justice; Two Arrests Made
> — (headline) Albuquerque Journal, 24 Nov. 1912



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




COMMONLY CONFUSED LEGAL TERMS

 * Judicial vs. Judicious
 * Prosecute vs. Persecute
 * Slander vs. Libel


Share

Up Next
Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

WORD OF THE DAY

GALVANIZE

Listen to the pronunciation of galvanize

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!





GAMES & QUIZZES

See All
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
Play
Simplify The Convoluted Expression Quiz A quiz that’s as “uncomplicated as a
round de...
Take the quiz


POPULAR

Close



OBSCURE & FUN


GREAT BIG LIST OF BEAUTIFUL AND USELESS WORDS, VOL. 3


17 OF THE FINEST WORDS FOR DRINKING


GALAXY BRAIN: 10 WORDS FOR DEEP THOUGHTS


YOUR FAVORITE BAND IS IN THE DICTIONARY


30 WAYS TO TELL THE FUTURE

See All


WORDPLAY


THE LONGEST LONG WORDS LIST


PILFER: HOW TO PLAY AND WIN


15 BIRD SOUNDS AND THE BIRDS WHO MAKE THEM


TERROIR, OENOPHILE, & MAGNUM: TEN WORDS ABOUT WINE


8 WORDS FOR LESSER-KNOWN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

See All


GRAMMAR & USAGE


USING BULLET POINTS ( • )


POINT OF VIEW: IT'S PERSONAL


31 USEFUL RHETORICAL DEVICES


HOW TO USE EM DASHES (—), EN DASHES (–) , AND HYPHENS (-)


PLURAL AND POSSESSIVE NAMES: A GUIDE

See All
Merriam Webster

Learn a new word every day. Delivered to your inbox!


 * Help
 * About Us
 * Advertising Info
 * Contact Us
 * Diversity
 * Privacy Policy
 * Terms of Use

 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * YouTube
 * Instagram

© 2024 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated



Update Privacy Preferences