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

Putting greater stress on small refineries at this moment in time by expanding E15 mandates would arguably be a form of pure policy malpractice. —David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026

The first wife of the high-profile lawyer who specialized in winning medical malpractice cases was serving a 32-year-to-life prison sentence for the 1989 killing of her former husband and his wife, Linda. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026

The firm established its initial focus on labor law enforcement and premises liability cases, vehicle accident cases, and medical malpractice cases. —Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 8 May 2026

But the analysts warned that years of fiscal malpractice were a growing constraint on the rating. —Tristan Bove, Fortune, 3 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for malpractice

• actus
• cactus
• practice
• practise
• tractus

Kids 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