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
In court filings in each of these cases, Prospect, its hospitals and its doctors denied the allegations of malpractice, negligence or wrongful death.
—
Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 9 Apr. 2026
States can then leave the regulation of talk therapy to other legal and professional mechanisms, such as malpractice or enforcement of professional ethics.
—Kevin Cope, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
Government can’t ignore malpractice.
—Peter Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2026
The newborn’s parents, Yiqi Wang and Hongyu Lu, are reportedly suing Jan for wrongful death, medical malpractice and fraud in civil court.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malpractice
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Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 9 Apr. 2026
States can then leave the regulation of talk therapy to other legal and professional mechanisms, such as malpractice or enforcement of professional ethics.
—Kevin Cope, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
Government can’t ignore malpractice.
—Peter Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2026
The newborn’s parents, Yiqi Wang and Hongyu Lu, are reportedly suing Jan for wrongful death, medical malpractice and fraud in civil court.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malpractice
Cite this Entry
“Malpractice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malpractice. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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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