malversation

noun

mal·ver·sa·tion | \ ˌmal-vər-ˈsā-shən

\

Definition of malversation

1 : misbehavior and especially corruption in an office, trust, or commission

2 : corrupt administration

Did You Know?

The form mal- is often a bad sign in a word, and malversation is no exception. In Middle French, mal- (meaning "bad," from the Latin word for "bad," malus) teamed up with verser ("to turn, handle," from the Latin verb vertere, "to turn ") to create malverser, a verb meaning "to be corrupt." This in turn led to the French noun malversation, which was adopted by English speakers in the mid-16th century. Some other mal- words that entered English from Middle French are maladroit ("inept"), malcontent ("discontented"), and maltreat ("to treat badly").

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about malversation

Listen to Our Podcast about malversation

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Dictionary Entries near malversation

Statistics for malversation

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for malversation

The first known use of malversation was in 1549

See more words from the same year

Comments on malversation

What made you want to look up malversation? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

apotheosis

the perfect form or example of something

Test Your Vocabulary

What did you just call me?! A Quiz

If a member of the audience describes your speech as bombastic, does that person mean it is:

pompous and overblown rousing and inspiring

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games