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defalcation

[ dee-fal-key-shuhn, -fawl- ]
/ ˌdi fælˈkeɪ ʃən, -fɔl- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR defalcation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Law.

misappropriation of money or funds held by an official, trustee, or other fiduciary.
the sum misappropriated.

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Origin of defalcation

1425–75; late Middle English: deduction from wages (<Middle French ) <Medieval Latin dēfalcātiōn- (stem of dēfalcātiō) a taking away, equivalent to dēfalcāt(us) (see defalcate) + -iōn--ion

OTHER WORDS FROM defalcation

non·de·fal·ca·tion, noun

Words nearby defalcation

deface, de facto, de facto segregation, defaecate, defalcate, defalcation, defamation, defamatory, defame, defamiliarization, defang
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to defalcation

flaw, weakness, failing, imperfection, dearth, paucity, deficiency, insufficiency, incapacity, shortcoming, ineffectiveness, ineptitude, inefficiency, loss, liquidation, disaster, insolvency, default, failure, lack

Example sentences from the Web for defalcation