malpractice
noun
mal·prac·tice
ˌmal-ˈprak-təs 
1
: a dereliction of professional duty or a failure to exercise an ordinary degree of professional skill or learning by one (such as a physician) rendering professional services which results in injury, loss, or damage
2
: an injurious, negligent, or improper practice : malfeasance
Examples of malpractice in a Sentence
a surgeon accused of malpractice
Doctors need to have malpractice insurance to protect themselves against lawsuits.
Recent Examples on the Web
This was straight-up malpractice from Bradley, whose captaincy hasn’t gone any better than that of the man who snubbed him in 2023, Zach Johnson.
—
Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
The Carmichael couple also accuses the hospital network of violating their right to privacy, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and medical malpractice.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Shamaya Jackson is suing Albany Medical Center for wrongful death, medical malpractice, vicarious liability, and lack of informed consent, claiming she was not told about treatments performed on her daughter Milani, who was admitted to the hospital multiple times in April for respiratory issues.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Several investigations and studies revealed the facility was plagued with poor infrastructure and mismanagement, rapes, assaults, and allegations of medical malpractice.
—Pj Green
september 24, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malpractice
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Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
The Carmichael couple also accuses the hospital network of violating their right to privacy, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and medical malpractice.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Shamaya Jackson is suing Albany Medical Center for wrongful death, medical malpractice, vicarious liability, and lack of informed consent, claiming she was not told about treatments performed on her daughter Milani, who was admitted to the hospital multiple times in April for respiratory issues.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Several investigations and studies revealed the facility was plagued with poor infrastructure and mismanagement, rapes, assaults, and allegations of medical malpractice.
—Pj Green
september 24, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malpractice
Cite this Entry
“Malpractice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malpractice. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
malpractice
noun
mal·prac·tice
(ˈ)mal-ˈprak-təs
: violation of professional standards especially by carelessness or improper conduct
Medical Definition
malpractice
1 of 2 noun
mal·prac·tice
(ˈ)mal-ˈprak-təs
: a dereliction of professional duty or a failure to exercise an accepted degree of professional skill or learning by a physician rendering professional services which results in injury, loss, or damage
malpractice
2 of 2 intransitive verb
malpracticed; malpracticing
: to engage in or commit malpractice
Legal Definition
malpractice
noun
mal·prac·tice
ˌmal-ˈprak-təs
: negligence, misconduct, lack of ordinary skill, or a breach of duty in the performance of a professional service (as in medicine) resulting in injury or loss
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