malfeasance

[mal-fee-zuhns]

noun

Law.

1. the performance of an act that is legally unjustified, harmful, or contrary to law, especially by a public official or a person in a position of public trust.

malfeasance

/ mælˈfiːzəns /

noun

1. law the doing of a wrongful or illegal act, esp by a public official Compare misfeasance nonfeasance

Other Word Forms

• malfeasant noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of malfeasance¹

First recorded in 1660–70; earlier malefeasance. See male-, feasance

Word History and Origins

Origin of malfeasance¹

C17: from Old French mal faisant, from mal evil + faisant doing, from faire to do, from Latin facere

Example Sentences

She said Congress wrote the “for cause” provision to punish “malfeasance in office,” not conduct that pre-dated her appointment.

From Los Angeles Times

Ned may be driven by an outdated sense of devotion to yesterday’s journalism, when reporters attended local government meetings and exposed malfeasance about which his neighbors would otherwise be ignorant.

From Salon

The governing body believes the consultation process deals with any potential challenge under competition law and it believes its transparency as a board deals with any issues regarding "malfeasance or unfairness".

From BBC

They would have seven-year terms and could be fired only for “neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.”

From Los Angeles Times

Suddenly, we found ourselves living in a reality where an Instagram post could serve as substantive evidence of malfeasance.

From Salon

Related Words

• impropriety 
• misbehavior 
• misconduct