malfeasance

noun mal·fea·sance \ ˌmal-ˈfē-zᵊn(t)s \

|Updated on: 19 Jun 2018

Examples: malfeasance in a Sentence

Definition of malfeasance

: wrongdoing or misconduct especially by a public official

The investigation has uncovered evidence of corporate malfeasance.

See malfeasance defined for English-language learners

See malfeasance defined for kids

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 of malfeasance from the Web

Contrary to what our television watching habit may lead us to believe, most of us don’t die at the hands of serial killers or from cancers that allow us to remain attractive or the malfeasance of a drunk driver.

— sallie tisdale, Good Housekeeping, "Everything to Expect, Say, and Do When a Loved One Is About to Die," 13 June 2018
Similarly, Democrats are torn between denouncing the callousness of the GOP’s simultaneous upper-end tax-cut frenzy and assaults on CHIP, or laughing at the whole enterprise as a fig leaf barely covering naked fiscal malfeasance.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "After Blowing Up the Deficit, House Passes Mostly Phony Spending Cuts," 8 June 2018
They are not supposed to cover up malfeasance or wrongdoing inside the bureau or inside the DOJ.

— Fox News, "Kellyanne Conway blasts media's Melania conspiracy theories," 6 June 2018
The central office was riddled with issues, including financial malfeasance.

— darcy costello, The Courier-Journal, "JCPS takeover: Here's what happened in two other Kentucky districts," 8 May 2018
Employees were asked to curb phone calls at the 80-year-old Magyar Nemzet, a conservative outlet that has criticized Mr. Orbán’s conservative-nationalist government and exposed government malfeasance.

— drew hinshaw, WSJ, "Hungary’s Orbán Moves Into New Term Facing Opposition Abroad but Not at Home," 8 May 2018
At the same time, Rep. Shooter asked the House to investigate allegations that had surfaced concerning malfeasance and other bad acts by Rep. Ugenti-Rita.

— dustin gardiner, azcentral, "Don Shooter seeks $1.3 million from House speaker, Ducey's chief of staff following removal," 16 Apr. 2018
Most research shows takeovers are generally successful when used to fix dysfunctional central offices, especially in cases involving nepotism or financial malfeasance.

— mandy mclaren, The Courier-Journal, "Research: Takeovers of urban districts like JCPS usually don't work," 31 May 2018
There are the obvious malfeasances and looting of the public coffers, of course, which are already approaching record-setting totals for federal venality.

— kevin baker, The New Republic, "Why America needs truth and reconciliation after Trump," 17 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'malfeasance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of malfeasance

mal- + obsolete feasance doing, execution

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1663

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

malfeasance Synonyms

Synonyms

misbehavior, misconduct, misdoing, wrongdoing;

malpractice;

goings-on, hanky-panky;

familiarity, impropriety, indiscretion;

blunder, flub, fumble, goof, lapse, miscue, misstep, mistake, slip, slipup, stumble;

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, modus operandi

Financial Definition of MALFEASANCE

malfeasance

noun

What It Is

Malfeasance is the legal term for intentionally doing something that is illegal.

How It Works

Let's say John Doe is Jane Smith's broker. John really wants to keep Jane Smith as a client, and he is in charge of her managed account, which means he can buy and sell for her account without her prior approval.

John decides that he wants to increase the returns in Jane's account, so he gets a tip from his buddy, Jake Johnson, who is the CFO of Company XYZ and who tells him that Company XYZ is about to be acquired by Company ABC. John takes this piece of insider information and buys 10,000 shares of Company XYZ for Jane's account. As expected, the stock price of Company XYZ soars 50% after Company ABC announces its acquisition plan five days later. Jane's account makes $200,000.

John has intentionally done something illegal (trade on insider information) that he knows could harm Jane if caught. This is malfeasance.

Why It Matters

Malfeasance is a term often connected to political figures, and it is hard to prove.

Source: Investing Answers

MALFEASANCE Defined for English Language Learners

malfeasance

noun

Definition of malfeasance for English Language Learners

law : illegal or dishonest activity especially by a public official or a corporation

Law Dictionary

malfeasance

noun mal·fea·sance \ ˌmal-ˈfēz-ᵊns \

legal Definition of malfeasance

: 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