malefactor

noun

mal·​e·​fac·​tor ˈma-lə-ˌfak-tər 

1

: one who commits an offense against the law

especially : felon

He favors harsh punishment for chronic malefactors.

2

: one who does ill toward another

Yet his poetry can be bitterly detailed at times, with the names of his personal malefactors spelled out.

—Bruce Morgan

Synonyms of malefactor

• criminal
• offender
• wrongdoer
• sinner
• villain

Examples of malefactor in a Sentence

she regards anyone who would cause the breakup of a family as a malefactor of the worst sort

the victim was able to give a clear description of the malefactor to the police

Recent Examples on the Web

To be confronted by Mike Wallace was the deepest dread of countless malefactors in public and corporate life. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 June 2026

The malefactors in Roald Dahl’s fiction are easy to spot. —Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026

There’s a reason Miranda Priestly remains one of the Oscar-winner’s most beloved roles and a hall-of-fame malefactor. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026

But in his wake, an even more malicious malefactor arose, taking advantage of a gaping spiritual void to double down on Jeff's sadistic coercion. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English malefactour, from Latin malefactor, from malefacere to do evil, from male + facere to do — more at do

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for malefactor

• benefactor
• chiropractor
• multifactor
• subcontractor
• acter
• actor
• factor
• tractor
• attractor
• cofactor
• compactor
• contactor

Kids Definition

malefactor

noun

male·​fac·​tor

ˈmal-ə-ˌfak-tər

1

: one who is guilty of a crime or offense

2

: one who does evil