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Ransom vs Bribe - What's the difference?

ransom | bribe |

As nouns the difference between ransom and bribe

is that ransom is money paid for the freeing of a hostage while bribe is something (usually money) given in exchange for influence or as an inducement to dishonesty.

As verbs the difference between ransom and bribe

is that ransom is to deliver, especially in context of sin or relevant penalties while bribe is to give a bribe to.

ransom

English

(wikipedia ransom)

Noun

(en-noun)
  • Money paid for the freeing of a hostage.
    • They were held for two million dollars ransom .
    They were held to ransom .
  • * 1674 , , Paradise Lost , Book XII:
    • Thy ransom paid, which man from death redeems.
  • * Sir J. Davies
    • His captivity in Austria, and the heavy ransom he paid for his liberty.
  • * 2010 , Caroline Alexander, The War That Killed Achilles: The True Story of Homer's Iliad :
    • As rich as was the ransom Priam paid for Hektor, Hermes says, his remaining sons at Troy “'would give three times as much ransom / for you, who are alive, were Atreus' son Agamemnon / to recognize you.'”
  • The release of a captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration.
    • prisoners hopeless of ransom
    (Dryden)
  • (historical, legal, UK) A sum paid for the pardon of some great offence and the discharge of the offender; also, a fine paid in lieu of corporal punishment.
    • (Blackstone)

    Usage notes

    * (term) is much more common in the US, (to) in the UK.

    Derived terms

    * king's ransom

    Verb

  • To deliver, especially in context of sin or relevant penalties.
  • To pay a price to set someone free from captivity or punishment.
    • to ransom prisoners from an enemy
  • To exact a ransom for, or a payment on.
    • Such lands as he had rule of he ransomed them so grievously, and would tax the men two or three times in a year. — Berners.

    See also

    * bail

    References

    Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary: Tenth Edition 1997

    Anagrams

    * * * * *

    bribe

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something (usually money) given in exchange for influence or as an inducement to dishonesty.
  • * Hobart
    • Undue reward for anything against justice is a bribe .
  • That which seduces; seduction; allurement.
  • * Akenside
    • Not the bribes of sordid wealth can seduce to leave these everblooming sweets.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Verb

    (brib)
  • To give a to.
  • * F. W. Robertson
    • Neither is he worthy who bribes a man to vote against his conscience.
  • To gain by a bribe; to induce as by a bribe.
    • to bribe somebody's compliance