misconduct

noun mis·con·duct \ -ˈkän-(ˌ)dəkt \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Examples: misconduct in a Sentence

Definition of misconduct

1 : mismanagement especially of governmental or military responsibilities

2 : intentional wrongdoing; specifically : deliberate violation of a law or standard especially by a government official : malfeasance

3 a : improper behavior

b : adultery

4 : a penalty (as in ice hockey) for improper behavior or abusive language (as toward an official)

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misconduct

play \-kən-ˈdəkt\ transitive verb

See misconduct defined for English-language learners

See misconduct defined for kids

Examples of misconduct in a Sentence

He was forced to defend himself against charges of sexual misconduct.
There have been reports of misconduct by several employees.

Recent Examples of misconduct from the Web

Tim Mapes’s departure marks the fourth time in recent months that Speaker Michael Madigan has had to distance himself from an associate over misconduct allegations.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Why Bernie Sanders won’t join the Democratic Party," 7 June 2018
His nomination was derailed by misconduct allegations, which led to a Pentagon investigation.

— ben kesling, WSJ, "Trump Launches Revamp of Veterans’ Health Care. Can a Rudderless VA Carry It Out?," 6 June 2018
Earlier this spring, Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin and Governor Charlie Baker disbanded the troop amid the misconduct allegations.

— matt rocheleau, BostonGlobe.com, "7 more state police troopers facing investigation for overtime pay theft," 5 June 2018
Kozinski, who had been subject to misconduct allegations in 2009, retired in December after the new claims were made, beginning with a Washington Post story.

— joan biskupic, CNN, "Judicial 'inappropriate conduct' is broader than isolated incidences, panel finds," 4 June 2018
University officials maintain that Nikias first learned of misconduct allegations against Tyndall in the fall of 2017.

— Anchorage Daily News, "USC president to step down amid growing outrage over scandals," 26 May 2018
Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson is on his way out, but the investigation of workplace misconduct allegations against him remains a major issue that's largely unaddressed by NFL owners.

— katherine peralta, charlotteobserver, "Why NFL commissioner says investigation of Panthers' Jerry Richardson isn't a 'farce' | Charlotte Observer," 23 May 2018
Tisaby has taken the Fifth Amendment amid a flurry of misconduct allegations from Greitens' team.

— bryan lowry, joseph bustos and kelsey landis, kansascity, "Greitens’ alleged victim will be allowed to testify at his trial, judge rules | The Kansas City Star," 7 May 2018
The academy instituted its new procedures for handling workplace misconduct allegations in January.

— monique judge, The Root, "Bill Cosby Ousted From Film Academy Along With Roman Polanski," 3 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'misconduct.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of misconduct

1705

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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misconduct Synonyms

Synonyms

malfeasance, misbehavior, misdoing, wrongdoing;

malpractice;

goings-on, hanky-panky;

familiarity, impropriety, indiscretion;

blunder, flub, fumble, goof, lapse, miscue, misstep, mistake, slip, slipup, stumble;

MISCONDUCT Defined for English Language Learners

misconduct

noun

Definition of misconduct for English Language Learners

: wrong behavior : behavior or activity that is illegal or morally wrong

MISCONDUCT Defined for Kids

misconduct

noun mis·con·duct \ mis-ˈkän-ˌdəkt \

Definition of misconduct for Students

: bad behavior

Law Dictionary

misconduct

noun mis·con·duct \ mis-ˈkän-dəkt \

legal Definition of misconduct

: intentional or wanton wrongful but usually not criminal behavior: as

a : deliberate or wanton violation of standards of conduct by a government official

b : wrongful behavior (as adultery) by a spouse that leads to the dissolution of the marriage

c : an attorney's violation of the standards set for professional conduct; also : an attorney's and especially a prosecutor's use of deceptive or reprehensible methods in presenting a case to a jury

d : impermissible behavior by a juror (as communicating about the case with outsiders, witnesses, or others, reading or hearing news reports about the case, or independently introducing evidence to other jurors)

e : an employee's deliberate or wanton disregard of an employer's interests or disregard or violation of the employer's standards or rules that is sufficient to justify a denial of unemployment compensation