malfeasance

noun

mal·​fea·​sance ˌmal-ˈfē-zᵊn(t)s 

: wrongdoing or misconduct especially by a public official

The investigation has uncovered evidence of corporate malfeasance.

Synonyms of malfeasance

• misconduct
• wrongdoing

Examples of malfeasance in a Sentence

The investigation has uncovered evidence of corporate malfeasance.

a campaign to impeach the governor for malfeasance in office

Recent Examples on the Web

In an ideal world, progressives would have howled about how wrong that was, but progressives were the beneficiaries of Twitter’s malfeasance, so the company’s censorship was seen as acceptable, even desirable. —Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026

The appellate court said the attorney general had demonstrated probable cause to investigate and sue, citing public reports of malfeasance at the NRA that predated the investigation and ample evidence uncovered during it. —Chloe Atkins, NBC news, 4 June 2026

Republicans rightly will blame Newsom and the Democratic Legislature for their misfeasance and malfeasance. —John Seiler, Oc Register, 4 June 2026

Slaughter was fired without cause, which clashed with a 1914 law that limited the president's ability to remove an FTC commissioner to instances of inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 20 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

mal- + obsolete feasance doing, execution

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for malfeasance

• defeasance
• misfeasance
• nonfeasance
• treasons

Kids Definition

malfeasance

noun

mal·​fea·​sance (ˈ)mal-ˈfēz-ᵊn(t)s 

: wrongful conduct especially by a public official

Legal Definition

malfeasance

noun

mal·​fea·​sance ˌmal-ˈfēz-ᵊns 

: the commission (as by a public official) of a wrongful or unlawful act involving or affecting the performance of one's duties compare misfeasance, nonfeasance

Etymology

mal- bad + obsolete English feasance doing, execution, from Old French faisance, from fais-, stem of faire to make, do, from Latin facere