misfeasance

American  

[mis-fee-zuhns] / mɪsˈfi zəns /

noun

Law.

1. a wrong, actual or alleged, arising from or consisting of affirmative action.

2. the wrongful performance of a normally lawful act; the wrongful and injurious exercise of lawful authority.

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misfeasance British  

/ mɪsˈfiːzəns /

noun

1. law the improper performance of an act that is lawful in itself Compare malfeasance nonfeasance

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• misfeasor
  noun

Etymology

Origin of misfeasance

From the Anglo-French word mesfesance, dating back to 1590–1600. See mis- ¹, feasance

Compare meaning

How does misfeasance compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• malfeasance vs. misfeasance

Explanation

Misfeasance happens when someone in authority uses her position to do something wrong. If a town's mayor uses his influence to get jobs for his family members, that's misfeasance. One way to define misfeasance is "the wrongful exercise of lawful authority." In other words, the power or authority is legal and fair, but the way it's being used is harmful. If a judge, sheriff, city councilor, or other public official acts in a way they know will cause harm, it's considered misfeasance. This legal term comes from an Old French word, mesfaire, "to misdo," which combines the roots mes-, "wrongly," and faire, "to do."

Example Sentences

Misfeasance, per state law, means “the performance of a duty in an improper manner.”

From Seattle Times • Nov. 29, 2021

Misfeasance and malfeasance in public office ought to be considered an unpardonable crime, and the guilty dealt with accordingly.

From A Book Written by the Spirits of the So-Called Dead by Helleberg, C. G. (Carl Gustaf)

Non-feasance, non-fē′zans, n. omission of something which ought to be done, distinguished from Misfeasance, which means the wrongful use of power or authority.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various