noun
corrupt elements; corrupt individuals
Refers to people within an organization or system who engage in corruption. Often used in political or institutional contexts.
党内の腐敗分子を一掃する必要がある。
It is necessary to purge the corrupt elements within the party.
腐敗 is the general concept of corruption or decay, while 腐敗分子 specifically refers to the people who are corrupt.
Compound of 腐敗 (corruption, decay) and 分子 (element, member). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is used in modern Japanese to denote corrupt individuals within a group.