misact

verb

mis·​act ˌmis-ˈakt 

misacted; misacting

1

intransitive : to act or behave in an improper or incorrect manner

In football, you get a 15-yard penalty if you do something like gouge an unsuspecting running back in the eyes. … In soccer, if you misact, they hand out little cards, which I think say, "Don't do that again or we'll give you another little card."

—Jim Brewer

2

transitive : to perform a part or role in a poor or unsuitable manner

Actors and managers have not always penetration enough to dive into the truth of character and are therefore content to receive it from tradition and misact it …

—William Popple

misact noun

plural misacts

This includes misacts of employees who fail to recognize or appreciate risks in the workplace …

—Mark A. Friend and James P. Kohn

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1