breach of trust

American  

noun

1. Law. a violation of duty by a trustee.

2. a violation of duty or responsibility.

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breach of trust British  

noun

1. law a violation of duty by a trustee or any other person in a fiduciary position

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Etymology

Origin of breach of trust

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

“It’s a breach of trust, a betrayal, and it’s kind of hard for me to stomach at the moment.”

From Los Angeles Times

Refusing to follow it is a breach of trust.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Butler said Monday that he was “disgusted by the breach of trust, presumably intended to give Epstein the chance to make money.”

From The Wall Street Journal

But, the prosecutors said in a sentencing memo, the doctor’s “egregious breaches of trust and abandonment of his oath to ‘do no harm’ undoubtedly contributed to the harm that Mr. Perry suffered.”

From Los Angeles Times

Police accusations to date have been limited to suspicion of fraud, breach of trust, obstruction of justice and misuse of office by Gen. Tomer-Yerushalmi.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bribery
• crime
• exploitation
• extortion
• fraud
• graft
• malfeasance
• nepotism