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

• misbehavior
• misconduct
• misdoing
• 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

The hard core malfeasance is unforgivable and the current Israeli genocide on top of all the other crimes, a game changer, The victimhood card has expired. —Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023

The company’s chief operating officer, Brad Lightcap, told employees that there had been no malfeasance. —Lauren Goode, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2023

Note to Chairman Gary Gensler: The Securities and Exchange Commission doesn’t need to regulate crypto markets to police malfeasance. —The Editorial Board, WSJ, 3 Nov. 2023

Biden’s trip to Israel came in the wake of an egregious case of media malfeasance that added more fuel to an already raging conflict. —The Editors, National Review, 19 Oct. 2023

Jesse Barcelona were arrested on multiple charges, including malfeasance, theft, and obstruction, according to CBS affiliate WAFB. —CBS News, 30 Sep. 2023

These disappearances are surprising given the perception that Chinese President Xi Jinping dominates the People’s Liberation Army and his ruthless commitment to rooting out malfeasance earlier in his tenure. —Joel Wuthnow, Foreign Affairs, 26 Sep. 2023

Although Reznikov has not been charged personally in ongoing corruption investigations and Zelensky did not cite malfeasance in his announcement, several high-profile allegations of graft have plagued the Defense Ministry. —Serhiy Morgunov, Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2023

If that sounds like a cynical ploy at first, an attempt to drag race into the spotlight, the movie’s persuasive rejoinder is that race is never irrelevant, especially where matters of corporate malfeasance, jury selection and the South are concerned. —Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

mal- + obsolete feasance doing, execution

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined above

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