Grift vs. Graft — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 20, 2024
Grift refers to obtaining money through minor swindling or deception, while graft typically involves corruption, especially political, through illicit gain.
Difference Between Grift and Graft
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Grift involves deceptive practices aimed at personal gain, usually through small-scale scams or trickery. On the other hand, graft is often associated with political or high-level corruption where public officials or powerful individuals exploit their positions for personal enrichment.
Grift is usually carried out by individuals or small groups who engage in petty frauds or con games. Whereas, graft involves a broader scope, including kickbacks, embezzlement, and large-scale bribery that can affect entire sectors or governments.
The severity and implications of graft are generally more significant due to its potential to undermine public trust and damage societal structures. In contrast, grift typically affects fewer people and is seen as less harmful on a societal scale, although still illegal and unethical.
Legally, both grift and graft are prosecutable, but the legal repercussions of graft can be far more severe, reflecting its impact on public administration and trust. Grift, while also subject to legal action, often results in lesser penalties.
The social perception of graft is generally that of a serious ethical breach, often sparking public outrage and demanding stricter reforms. Conversely, grift might be perceived with a mix of disdain and, occasionally, begrudging admiration for the cunning involved in smaller cons.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Obtaining money by small-scale swindling or deception
Corruption by public officials for personal gain
Common Practices
Petty frauds, con games
Kickbacks, embezzlement, bribery
Scope of Impact
Typically individual or small group victims
Can affect entire government systems or corporations
Legal Consequences
Usually lesser penalties
Severe penalties, potentially including prison
Social Perception
Often seen as cunning or petty
Viewed as a serious breach of trust and ethics
Compare with Definitions
Grift
The act of swindling, typically by petty tricks.
His grift involved selling fake concert tickets.
Graft
The acquisition of money or advantage through corrupt practices.
He was fired for his involvement in political graft.
Grift
To engage in small-scale scams.
They grifted at local fairs, scamming unsuspecting buyers.
Graft
Any form of corrupt dealings, especially in politics.
Graft has tainted the reputation of the administration.
Grift
To obtain money or advantage deceitfully.
She grifted tourists out of their money at the market.
Graft
To gain illicit advantage or money through abuse of authority.
The official was caught grafting off public funds.
Grift
A con or a deceitful scheme for personal gain.
The old grift they pulled was a classic bait-and-switch.
Graft
Corruption involving significant sums and high-level positions.
The scandal revealed extensive graft in the government.
Grift
A practitioner of dishonest schemes.
He's known as a skilled grift in the underworld.
Graft
To practice corruption, usually within governmental or corporate structures.
The corporation was notorious for grafting to secure contracts.
Grift
Money made dishonestly, as in a swindle.
Graft
A shoot or twig inserted into a slit on the trunk or stem of a living plant, from which it receives sap.
Grift
A swindle or confidence game.
Graft
A piece of living tissue that is transplanted surgically.
Grift
To engage in swindling or cheating.
Graft
Bribery and other corrupt practices used to secure illicit advantages or gains in politics or business
Sweeping measures to curb official graft
Grift
To obtain by swindling or cheating.
Graft
Hard work
Success came after years of hard graft
Grift
A confidence game or swindle.
Hey, what's the grift? What are you trying to pull?
Graft
Insert (a shoot or twig) as a graft
It was common to graft different varieties on to a single tree trunk
Grift
To obtain illegally, as by con game.
Graft
Transplant (living tissue) as a graft
They can graft a new hand on to the nerve ends
Grift
To obtain money illegally.
Graft
Combine or integrate (an idea, system, etc.) with another, typically in a way considered inappropriate
Old values have been grafted on to a new economic class
Grift
To obtain money immorally or through deceitful means.
Graft
Make money by shady or dishonest means.
Graft
Work hard
I need people prepared to go out and graft
Graft
To unite (a shoot or bud) with a growing plant by insertion or by placing in close contact.
Graft
To join (a plant or plants) by such union.
Graft
To transplant or implant (living tissue, for example) surgically into a bodily part to replace a damaged part or compensate for a defect.
Graft
To join or unite closely
Graft new customs onto old.
Graft
To make a graft.
Graft
To be or become joined.
Graft
To gain money or advantage through deceit or fraud.
Graft
A detached shoot or bud united or to be united with a growing plant.
Graft
The union or point of union of a detached shoot or bud with a growing plant by insertion or attachment.
Graft
A plant produced by such union.
Graft
Material, especially living tissue or an organ, surgically attached to or inserted into a bodily part to replace a damaged part or compensate for a defect.
Graft
The procedure of implanting or transplanting such material.
Graft
The configuration or condition resulting from such a procedure.
Graft
Deceitful or fraudulent use of one's position, especially in public office, to obtain personal profits or advantages.
Graft
Money or advantage obtained by such means.
Graft
(countable) A small shoot or scion of a tree inserted in another tree, the stock of which is to support and nourish it. The two unite and become one tree, but the graft determines the kind of fruit.
Graft
(countable) A branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot.
Graft
A portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty.
Graft
(obsolete) A ditch, a canal.
Graft
The depth of the blade of a digging tool such as a spade or shovel.
Graft
A narrow spade used in digging drainage trenches.
Graft
(uncountable) Corruption in official life.
Graft
(uncountable) Illicit profit by corrupt means, especially in public life.
Graft
A criminal’s special branch of practice.
Graft
(countable) A con job.
Graft
A cut of the take (money).
Graft
A bribe, especially on an ongoing basis.
Graft
Work; labor requiring effort.
We had to put in a lot of hard graft to get the job done.
Graft
A job or trade.
Graft
(transitive) To insert (a graft) in a branch or stem of another tree; to propagate by insertion in another stock; also, to insert a graft upon.
Graft
(intransitive) To insert scions (grafts) from one tree, or kind of tree, etc., into another; to practice grafting.
Graft
To implant a portion of (living flesh or akin) in a lesion so as to form an organic union.
Graft
(transitive) To join (one thing) to another as if by grafting, so as to bring about a close union.
Graft
To cover, as a ring bolt, block strap, splicing, etc., with a weaving of small cord or rope yarns.
Graft
(chemistry) To form a graft polymer
Graft
To work hard.
Graft
To obtain illegal gain from bribery or similar corrupt practices.
Graft
A small shoot or scion of a tree inserted in another tree, the stock of which is to support and nourish it. The two unite and become one tree, but the graft determines the kind of fruit.
Graft
Acquisition of money, position, etc., by dishonest or unjust means, as by actual theft or by taking advantage of a public office or any position of trust or employment to obtain fees, perquisites, profits on contracts, legislation, pay for work not done or service not performed, etc.; illegal or unfair practice for profit or personal advantage; also, anything thus gained.
Graft
A "soft thing" or "easy thing;" a "snap."
Graft
To insert (a graft) in a branch or stem of another tree; to propagate by insertion in another stock; also, to insert a graft upon.
Graft
To implant a portion of (living flesh or akin) in a lesion so as to form an organic union.
Graft
To join (one thing) to another as if by grafting, so as to bring about a close union.
And graft my love immortal on thy fame !
Graft
To cover, as a ring bolt, block strap, splicing, etc., with a weaving of small cord or rope-yarns.
Graft
To insert scions from one tree, or kind of tree, etc., into another; to practice grafting.
Graft
(surgery) tissue or organ transplanted from a donor to a recipient; in some cases the patient can be both donor and recipient
Graft
The practice of offering something (usually money) in order to gain an illicit advantage
Graft
The act of grafting something onto something else
Graft
Cause to grow together parts from different plants;
Graft the cherry tree branch onto the plum tree
Graft
Place athe organ of a donor into the body of a recipient
Common Curiosities
What constitutes a grift?
Small-scale scams or deceitful maneuvers for personal gain.
Can graft impact an entire economy?
Yes, especially when it involves high-level corruption in government or major corporations.
How does public perception differ between grift and graft?
Graft is viewed much more harshly as it affects public trust and integrity.
How do grift and graft affect their victims?
Grift usually impacts individuals or small groups, while graft can harm broader society.
What does graft typically involve?
Corruption and illicit gain, particularly in political or official capacities.
What are examples of graft?
Bribery for political favors or embezzling public funds.
Is grift ever considered harmless?
While sometimes viewed as less serious, it is still unethical and illegal.
Are grift and graft legally punishable?
Yes, both are illegal, though graft often incurs more severe penalties.
Can grift escalate into more severe forms of crime?
Yes, what starts as grift can evolve into more organized criminal activities.
What are typical examples of grift?
Selling counterfeit goods or engaging in small con games.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
