Phrase guide

power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely

proverb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

proverb

Meaning 1

The corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From a letter written by Lord Acton in 1887.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Macht korrumpiert, absolute Macht korrumpiert absolut — the corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total
  • Polish: władza korumpuje, a władza absolutna korumpuje absolutnie — the corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total
  • Portuguese: o poder corrompe, o poder absoluto corrompe absolutamente — the corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total
  • Russian: власть развраща́ет, абсолю́тная власть развраща́ет абсолю́тно (vlastʹ razvraščájet, absoljútnaja vlastʹ razvraščájet absoljútno) — the corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total
  • Spanish: el poder corrompe, el poder absoluto corrompe absolutamente — the corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total
  • Ukrainian: вла́да розбе́щує, а абсолю́тна вла́да розбе́щує абсолю́тно (vláda rozbéščuje, a absoljútna vláda rozbéščuje absoljútno) — the corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total