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
The settlement is far beyond the $470,000 state cap on nonfatal medical malpractice.
—
Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
Publishing demonstrably false claims that demonize vulnerable populations is journalistic malpractice.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026
This conduct goes beyond mere negligence, or medical malpractice — their decision to have their very sick young patient dumped onto the sidewalk — in Phoenix, in August — directly caused Kaelen’s death.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
In the 1990s, my family and I were the plaintiffs in a medical malpractice lawsuit regarding the death of my mother.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malpractice
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Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
Publishing demonstrably false claims that demonize vulnerable populations is journalistic malpractice.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026
This conduct goes beyond mere negligence, or medical malpractice — their decision to have their very sick young patient dumped onto the sidewalk — in Phoenix, in August — directly caused Kaelen’s death.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
In the 1990s, my family and I were the plaintiffs in a medical malpractice lawsuit regarding the death of my mother.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 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 22 Feb. 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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