quid pro quo

noun

ˌkwid-ˌprō-ˈkwō How to pronounce quid pro quo (audio)
Synonyms of quid pro quo
: something given or received for something else
also : a deal arranging a quid pro quo

Frequently Asked Questions

Is quid pro quo legal?

Quid pro quo means "something given or received for something else." There is nothing inherently illegal in giving or receiving something in exchange for something else, but in legal contexts quid pro quo often refers to something that is in fact illegal, such as if a company gives a government official money in exchange for receiving a contract that rightly should be given to whatever company is best able to meet the requirements for the contract.

Is quid pro quo bribery?

One might say that every bribe is a case of quid pro quo, but not every quid pro quo is a case of bribery. A bribe is something (such as money or a favor) given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of someone, and while quid pro quo may to be used to describe this, it may also refer to something merely traded for something else.

What does quid pro quo have to do with medicine?

In current use, quid pro quo has little to do with medicine, but the Latin phrase it came from (which may be translated as "something for something") originated with apothecaries (people who prepare and sell drugs or compounds for medicinal purposes). In the 16th through the 18th centuries a quid pro quo often referred to the substitution of one medicine for another.

Synonyms of quid pro quo

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Examples of quid pro quo in a Sentence

in politics nobody does something for nothing: there's always a quid pro quo involved
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The quid pro quo made total sense to me. — Kevin Brazil, Harpers Magazine, 9 June 2026 Our wealthy leaders are getting richer by demanding quid pro quo from companies like Paramount, Disney and Meta. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 15 May 2026 And the ultimate question the Supreme Court must answer is whether this practice of quid pro quo corruption is protected by the First Amendment. — Lawrence Lessig, Time, 30 Apr. 2026 Supporters of the spending limits have argued that the rules prevent quid pro quo corruption as well and restrict individuals from using political parties to circumvent other campaign finance rules. — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for quid pro quo

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, something for something

First Known Use

1532, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quid pro quo was in 1532

Rhymes for quid pro quo

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Browse Nearby Words

quidnunc
quid pro quo
quids in
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Cite this Entry

“Quid pro quo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quid%20pro%20quo. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Legal Definition

quid pro quo

noun
ˌkwid-ˌprō-ˈkwō How to pronounce quid pro quo (audio)
: something (as consideration) given or received for something else
Etymology

New Latin, something for something

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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