idiom

Money is the Root of All Evil

MUN-ee iz the root uv awl EE-vul

/ˈmʌniː ɪz ðə ruːt əv ɔːl ˈiːvəl/

Listen

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Syllable breakdown

moneyistherootofallevil

Dictionary meaning

The belief that the love of money is the source of all moral corruption, wickedness, and conflict in society; often quoted as a warning against greed, though the original biblical source (1 Timothy 6:10) specifies 'the love of money' rather than money itself.

Examples

She refused the bribe, citing the principle that money is the root of all evil.
He argued that money is the root of all evil whenever someone in the office prioritised profit over ethics.

Pronunciation tips

Often misquoted as 'money is the root of all evil'; the original says 'the love of money is the root of all evil'

People also look up

Cost an arm and a leg

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