malfeasance
noun
mal·fea·sance
ˌmal-ˈfē-zᵊn(t)s 
: wrongdoing or misconduct especially by a public official
The investigation has uncovered evidence of corporate malfeasance.
Examples of malfeasance in a Sentence
The investigation has uncovered evidence of corporate malfeasance.
a campaign to impeach the governor for malfeasance in office
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite what her attorneys claimed was procedural malfeasance during her trial, Griner was found guilty and received the near-maximum sentence to up the ante in negotiations over her fate with the United States.
—
The Editors, National Review, 22 July 2024
Evidence of government malfeasance, provided in the appeal documents, included more than 100 photos planted across a digital camera memory card and backup hard drive, according to court documents filed in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals Oct. 28 as part of an appeal seeking a new trial.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Policies and regulation must guard against their malfeasance, and the public must be protected by intense regulation and report cards.
—Sachin H. Jain, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
But false claims of widespread malfeasance have permeated the American discourse — particularly in right-wing media ecosystems — since President-elect Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and falsely claimed to have won.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for malfeasance 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
The Editors, National Review, 22 July 2024
Evidence of government malfeasance, provided in the appeal documents, included more than 100 photos planted across a digital camera memory card and backup hard drive, according to court documents filed in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals Oct. 28 as part of an appeal seeking a new trial.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Policies and regulation must guard against their malfeasance, and the public must be protected by intense regulation and report cards.
—Sachin H. Jain, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
But false claims of widespread malfeasance have permeated the American discourse — particularly in right-wing media ecosystems — since President-elect Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and falsely claimed to have won.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for malfeasance
Articles Related to malfeasance
Dictionary Entries Near malfeasance
Cite this Entry
“Malfeasance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malfeasance. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
malfeasance
noun
mal·fea·sance
(ˈ)mal-ˈfēz-ᵊn(t)s
: wrongful conduct especially by a public official
Legal Definition
malfeasance
noun
mal·fea·sance
ˌmal-ˈfēz-ᵊns
: the commission (as by a public official) of a wrongful or unlawful act involving or affecting the performance of one's duties compare misfeasance, nonfeasance
Etymology
mal- bad + obsolete English feasance doing, execution, from Old French faisance, from fais-, stem of faire to make, do, from Latin facere
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share