HOW TO PRONOUNCE
venal
/ˈvinəl/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:05
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What does venal mean?
adjective
- Of a position, privilege etc.: available for purchase rather than assigned on merit.
- Capable of being bought (of a person); willing to take bribes.
- Corrupt, mercenary.
More meanings (2)
adjective
- (archaic, rare) Venous; pertaining to veins.
- (archaic) For sale; available for purchase.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈvinəl/
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
Has every creation of industry a venal, absolute, unchangeable, and consequently legitimate and true value?--Yes.
Very useful to the police and the press, unsteady in intellect and of weak moral principle, they have repeatedly shown themselves accessible to venal considerations.
More book examples (3)
"M. C---- lavished such epithets as odious and cowardly, monstrous, vile, venal and vindictive, on the Association, which he declared he wanted to destroy," &c., &c.
Most of the native underlings are utterly venal and corrupt.
Poor little Lucretia, described by the excellent M. Moinet as a "bon petit coeur," is enveloped in the political ordure slung by venal pamphleteers at the masterful men of her race.