Corruption is the offering or soliciting of undue advantages for the provision of certain services, e.g. preferential treatment in competition or in the exercise of official functions.

Usually, but not exclusively, this concerns offences against criminal law such as § 299 and §§ 331ff. StGB, but also bribery of members of parliament (§ 108e StGB) or works councils (§ 119 BetrVG).