Suborn: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Suborn verb. To bribe or persuade someone to do wrong, especially to lie under oath.
How to say it
suh-BORN/səˈbɔːn/
2 syllables, stressed on the second (BORN). Forms: suborned.
Suborn in a sentence
He was convicted of trying to suborn a witness with an envelope of cash.
Rival agents suborned the ambassador’s chauffeur.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- bribe
- corrupt
- induce
- buy off
Where suborn comes from
From Latin subornare, to equip secretly, from sub, secretly, and ornare, to equip.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Rival agents _____ the ambassador’s chauffeur.
- disenfranchise
- flout
- suborn
Show the answer
suborn: Rival agents suborned the ambassador’s chauffeur.