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
His inauguration in 2024, after years of political malaise, raised hopes that rampant corruption and chronic malpractices could finally be reined in.
—
Ladan Anoushfar, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
As for what got Osbourne to the sorry state shown in some of these scenes, that’s a sad story that involves what the family insinuates is medical malpractice.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
Pretending otherwise is strategic malpractice.
—Loree Sutton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for malpractice
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Ladan Anoushfar, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
As for what got Osbourne to the sorry state shown in some of these scenes, that’s a sad story that involves what the family insinuates is medical malpractice.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
Pretending otherwise is strategic malpractice.
—Loree Sutton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for malpractice
Cite this Entry
“Malpractice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malpractice. Accessed 4 Nov. 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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