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malefactor

[ mal-uh-fak-ter ]
/ ˈmæl əˌfæk tər /
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noun

a person who violates the law; criminal.
a person who does harm or evil, especially toward another.

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Origin of malefactor

1400–50; late Middle English malefactour<Latin malefactor, equivalent to malefac(ere) to act wickedly, do an evil deed (see male-, fact) + -tor-tor

Words nearby malefactor

Malecite, male cow, maledict, malediction, malefaction, malefactor, malefactress, male fern, malefic, maleficence, maleficent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to malefactor

ruffian, villain, hoodlum, felon, thug, varlet, delinquent, culprit, rascal, wretch, wrongdoer, convict, scoundrel, evildoer, outcast, rogue, prisoner, outlaw, rowdy, scamp

Example sentences from the Web for malefactor

British Dictionary definitions for malefactor

malefactor
/ (ˈmælɪˌfæktə) /

noun

a criminal; wrongdoer

Derived forms of malefactor

malefaction, nounmalefactress, fem n

Word Origin for malefactor

C15: via Old French from Latin, from malefacere to do evil
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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