malfeasance

American  

[mal-fee-zuhns] / mælˈfi zəns /

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.

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malfeasance British  

/ mælˈfiːzəns /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• malfeasant adjective

Etymology

Origin of malfeasance

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

Compare meaning

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

• malfeasance vs. misfeasance

Example Sentences

Algorithmic bias and injustice are at the heart of this ingenious novel of technological innovation and corporate malfeasance.

From Los Angeles Times

Serbian leaders have batted away accusations of malfeasance at Linglong, and company rejected responsibility, saying the workers had been hired by one of its subcontractors.

From Barron's

Typically, Congress gave the appointees, a mix of Republicans and Democrats, a fixed term and said they could be removed only for “inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.”

From Los Angeles Times

While they’re nominated by the President, the law says they may be removed only for cause, such as malfeasance.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the skepticism is notable for what it says about the difficulty in building trust in public institutions after so many decades of malfeasance and mismanagement.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• impropriety
• misbehavior
• misconduct