Standard Lemma guide

venally

adv · 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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1

adv

Meaning 1

In a venal fashion; mercenarily or in a manner subject to corruption.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

in a corrupt and deceitful manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he acted dishonestly when he gave the contract to his best friend

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dishonestly, deceitfully

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English venal Middle English -ly English -ly English venally From venal + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: vénalement — in a venal fashion
  • Polish: przekupnie — in a venal fashion
  • Polish: sprzedajnie — in a venal fashion