Legal Definitions - venal

The term venal describes someone or something that is susceptible to bribery or corruption, often driven by a desire for personal gain, especially money. It implies a willingness to compromise one's integrity, principles, or duty for financial or other valuable considerations.

Here are some examples illustrating the use of the term venal:

• Example 1: A building inspector, known for being venal, routinely accepts cash payments from construction companies to overlook safety violations, endangering future occupants of the buildings.

  Explanation: This illustrates a venal person because the inspector is capable of being bribed and is willing to compromise their professional duty and public safety for personal financial gain.

• Example 2: The newspaper exposé revealed a highly venal political system where elected officials frequently awarded lucrative government contracts to companies that had made significant "donations" to their personal campaigns.

  Explanation: Here, "venal" describes the political system itself, indicating that it is characterized by corrupt bargaining and that influence and contracts are essentially for sale to those willing to pay.

• Example 3: A sports agent, driven by venal motives, advised a young athlete to sign with a team that offered the agent a substantial hidden commission, even though another team offered a better long-term career path for the athlete.

  Explanation: This demonstrates a venal individual who prioritized their own financial benefit over the best interests of their client, showing a readiness to sell their influence for money with base motives.