noun

subornation

suh-bor-NAY-shun/səˌbɔrˈneɪʃən/

The act of persuading someone to commit perjury or another wrongful act.

Paying the guard to unlock the jewelry case is an act of subornation.

A man secretly pays a museum security guard to unlock a jewelry display case for him; the cash exchange and unauthorized access make the procurement of wrongdoing visible together.

Etymology

subLatinunder; secretly

+ornLatinequip, furnish

+ationLatinact or process

With “under” carrying the sense “secretly,” the verb meaning “equip” or “furnish” also meant “secretly instigate.” The noun names this inducement to wrongdoing, especially persuading a witness to give false testimony.

More examples

Paying an employee to falsify records can amount to subornation.
The attorney faces a charge of subornation of perjury.
Investigators uncover evidence of subornation in messages promising cash for false testimony.

Forms

subornation

suborn verb — Persuade someone to commit a wrongful act.

suborner noun — Someone who persuades another to commit wrongdoing.

Similar words

incitement: Encouragement of wrongdoing, often public rather than directed at one person.
instigation: Starting or provoking misconduct, without necessarily recruiting someone to participate.