Meaning
bribe; tangent
- A bribe or kickback paid illicitly to an official
- In geometry, a straight line touching a curve at a single point
In a sentence
Il funzionario è stato arrestato per aver intascato una tangente milionaria.
The official was arrested for pocketing a million-euro bribe.
Durante il dibattito il candidato è partito per la tangente.
During the debate, the candidate went completely off on a tangent.
L'azienda ha negato di aver mai pagato alcuna tangente per vincere l'appalto.
The company denied having ever paid any bribe to win the contract.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| tangente | feminine · singular |
| tangenti | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- In politics and news, almost always means 'bribe' or 'kickback'.
- The political scandal 'Tangentopoli' in 1990s Italy derives directly from this word.