noun · 2 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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/vɪˈnælɪti/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:V IH0 N AE1 L IH0 T IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The fact or state of being for sale, especially with reference to bribes or corruption.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
1785, The Times, 17 Jan 1785, p.1 col. B As your spirited paper has declared war, not only against venality and despotism, but was intended to correct follies and abuses in private life, I hope the following will come within its useful plan.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
prostitution of talents or offices or services for reward
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: corruptness, corruption
History
Etymology
From venal + -ity, from French vénalité or Latin vēnālitās, from vēnālis (“venal”), from vēnum; compare English vend.
Across languages
Translations
9 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Georgian:
გამყიდველობა
(gamq̇idveloba)
— being for sale
Georgian:
მექრთამეობა
(mekrtameoba)
— being for sale
Georgian:
კორუფცია
(ḳorupcia)
— being for sale
German:
Käuflichkeit
— being for sale
Manx:
so-chionnaght
— being for sale
Manx:
so-chreckys
— being for sale
Polish:
przekupność
— being for sale
Polish:
sprzedajność
— being for sale
Russian:
прода́жность
(prodážnostʹ)
— being for sale
