late 14c., of material things, "subject to decay or putrefaction, perishable," from Old French corroptible (14c.) or directly from Late Latin corruptibilis "liable to decay, corruptible," from past-participle stem of Latin corrumpere "to destroy; spoil," figuratively "corrupt, seduce, bribe" (see corrupt (adj.)).
Of persons, "susceptible of being changed for the worse, tending to moral corruption," mid-15c. As "open to bribery" from 1670s. Related: Susceptibility (late 15c.).