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malfeasance

noun

mal·​fea·​sance ˌmal-ˈfē-zᵊn(t)s How to pronounce malfeasance (audio)
: wrongdoing or misconduct especially by a public official
The investigation has uncovered evidence of corporate malfeasance.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are those who’ve been inspired by different aspects of Mangione’s case — health-insurance malfeasance, criminal-justice advocacy, death-penalty reform — to become activists. Lorena O'Neil, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025 But in the current climate of state malfeasance, poverty, and violence, many South Africans fear that precious resources and attention have been diverted to the G-20 at the expense of ordinary South Africans. Zanele Mji, Time, 21 Nov. 2025 This tragedy was totally preventable and would have never happened without Biden’s malfeasance. Jasmine Baehr , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025 Along with his plays, Graham also created the BBC series Sherwood, which finished its second season last year and uses the dependable Brit mystery format to look at the larger issues of post-industrial suffering and government malfeasance that plague his hometown and so many others. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for malfeasance

Word History

Etymology

mal- + obsolete feasance doing, execution

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of malfeasance was in 1663

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Cite this Entry

“Malfeasance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malfeasance. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

malfeasance

noun
mal·​fea·​sance (ˈ)mal-ˈfēz-ᵊn(t)s How to pronounce malfeasance (audio)
: wrongful conduct especially by a public official

Legal Definition

malfeasance

noun
mal·​fea·​sance ˌmal-ˈfēz-ᵊns How to pronounce malfeasance (audio)
: 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

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