भ्रष्ट (bhrasht)

adjective A single core meaning: 'corrupt', mostly used of officials, systems, or people who abuse power for personal gain. Closely paired with the noun भ्रष्टाचार (bhrashtaachaar, 'corruption'), which learners will meet constantly in news and everyday complaints about governance.
Sense 1 : corrupt (morally/officially)
adjective
Synonyms: बेईमान (beiimaan), भ्रष्टाचारी (bhrashtaachaarii, of a corrupt person specifically), दुराचारी (duraachaarii, literary)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the word you will hear constantly on Indian news channels and in everyday political grumbling -- भ्रष्ट नेता (bhrasht netaa, 'corrupt politician') and भ्रष्ट अधिकारी (bhrasht adhikaarii, 'corrupt official') are practically stock phrases. Its noun partner भ्रष्टाचार (bhrashtaachaar, 'corruption') is one of the most-used abstract nouns in Indian civic conversation, so learning them as a pair pays off quickly.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for बेईमान (beiimaan) and भ्रष्ट (bhrasht) interchangeably, but भ्रष्ट (bhrasht) leans specifically toward abuse of official power or position (a corrupt officer, a corrupt system), while बेईमान (beiimaan) is broader everyday dishonesty (a shopkeeper cheating you on change). 2) It is almost always used to describe people, officials, or systems -- not used for a 'corrupted file' or 'corrupted data' in the computing sense, which takes different vocabulary entirely.
Sample Sentences:
यह नेता बहुत भ्रष्ट है। This politician is very corrupt.
(yah netaa bahut bhrasht hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
भ्रष्ट अधिकारियों के खिलाफ जनता में गुस्सा बढ़ रहा है। Anger among the public against corrupt officials is increasing.
(bhrasht adhikaariyon ke khilaaph jantaa men gussaa badh rahaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पुलिस विभाग में कई भ्रष्ट लोग पकड़े गए। Many corrupt people in the police department were caught.
(pulis vibhaag men kaii bhrasht log pakde gae।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
अगर तुम भ्रष्ट निकले, तो कोई तुम पर भरोसा नहीं करेगा। If you turn out to be corrupt, no one will trust you.
(agar tum bhrasht nikle, to koii tum par bharosaa nahiin karegaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
अगर वह भ्रष्ट न होता, तो आज इतनी दौलत कहाँ से आती? If he weren't corrupt, where would all this wealth have come from today?
(agar vah bhrasht n hotaa, to aaj itnii daulat kahaan se aatii?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
भ्रष्ट व्यवस्था को सुधारना आसान नहीं है। Reforming a corrupt system is not easy.
(bhrasht vyavasthaa ko sudhaarnaa aasaan nahiin hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सरकार ने भ्रष्ट अधिकारियों की सूची जारी की। The government released a list of corrupt officials.
(sarkaar ne bhrasht adhikaariyon kii soochii jaarii kii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इस देश को भ्रष्ट नेताओं से मुक्त करो! Free this country from corrupt politicians!
(is desh ko bhrasht netaaon se mukt karo!)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
कोई भी व्यक्ति भ्रष्ट पैदा नहीं होता, हालात उसे बना देते हैं। No person is born corrupt; circumstances make him so.
(koii bhii vyakti bhrasht paidaa nahiin hotaa, haalaat use banaa dete hain।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हें लगता है कि वह अफसर भ्रष्ट हो सकता है? Do you think that officer might be corrupt?
(kyaa tumhen lagtaa hai ki vah aphsar bhrasht ho saktaa hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
भ्रष्ट प्रशासन के कारण योजनाएँ कभी पूरी नहीं होतीं। Because of the corrupt administration, the plans never get completed.
(bhrasht prashaasan ke kaaran yojnaaen kabhii poorii nahiin hotiin।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m): भ्रष्ट (bhrasht)
(pl.m): भ्रष्टे (bhrashte)
(sg.f): भ्रष्टी (bhrashtii)
(pl.f): भ्रष्टी (bhrashtii)