corrupt
kuh-RUPTadjMeaning dishonest, especially in exchange for money or power
Memory hook CORE-RUPT: rotten to the CORE. The referee pockets a bag of coins and calls every play for the team that paid him. Rotten to the core, he is corrupt.
The corrupt referee was paid to call every play for one team.
In context For years the corrupt inspector approved unsafe buildings in exchange for envelopes of cash, until a reporter followed the money.
Similar dishonest, crooked, bribable, shady
Opposite honest, ethical, upright
From Latin corruptus, “spoiled, destroyed,” from corrumpere: com (thoroughly) + rumpere (to break).