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malversation

[ mal-ver-sey-shuh n ]
/ ˌmæl vərˈseɪ ʃən /
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noun Chiefly Law.

improper or corrupt behavior in office, especially in public office.

RELATED WORDS

malfeasance, misbehavior, impropriety, immorality, wrongdoing, misdemeanor, dereliction, malpractice, mischief, offense, transgression, mismanagement, naughtiness, evil, rudeness, delinquency

Nearby words

  1. malvaceous,
  2. malvasia,
  3. malvern,
  4. malvern hill,
  5. malvern hills,
  6. malvina,
  7. malvinas,
  8. malvine,
  9. malvoisie,
  10. malwa

Origin of malversation

1540–50; < Middle French, equivalent to malvers(er) to embezzle (< Latin male versārī to behave badly, equivalent to male badly (see mal-) + versārī to behave, conduct oneself, passive (in middle sense) of versāre to turn; see versatile) + -ation -ation
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for malversation

British Dictionary definitions for malversation

malversation

/ (ˌmælvɜːˈseɪʃən) /

noun

rare professional or public misconduct

Word Origin for malversation

C16: from French, from malverser to behave badly, from Latin male versārī
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
Word Origin and History for malversation

malversation

n.

"professional or official corruption," 1540s, from French malversation, from malverser, from Latin male versari, from male "wrongly, ill" (see mal-) + versari "to behave, conduct oneself," passive frequentative of vertere "to turn" (see versus).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper