nonfeasance

noun

non·​fea·​sance ˌnän-ˈfē-zᵊn(t)s 

: failure to act

especially : failure to do what ought to be done

Synonyms

• default
• delinquency
• dereliction
• failure
• misprision
• neglect
• negligence
• oversight

Examples of nonfeasance in a Sentence

you can sue for nonfeasance if the company doesn't fulfill the contract

Recent Examples on the Web

In ruling on nonfeasance, the courts would have to weigh whether lawmakers have repeatedly failed to do their official duties, said Jason Marisam, an associate professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul and former Minnesota assistant attorney general. —Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 4 Feb. 2025

Finally, Fauci’s role in this miasma remains unclear — in part because of his obfuscation and in part the nonfeasance of scientific journalists who for years haven’t aggressively pursued COVID-19’s origin story. —Cory Franklin, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025

The response says Paul was suspended for gross misconduct, neglect of duty, nonfeasance and failure of good behavior. —Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 2 July 2024

In practice, our too-complex system degrades just about every public responsibility into nonfeasance. —Daniel Henninger, WSJ, 1 June 2022

Reasons for removal could include abuse of power, neglect, gross immorality, drunkenness, misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance, according to Ohio law. —Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 9 May 2022

The institution is one of the largest banks in the U.S. and an ongoing source of some difficult to differentiate apparent combination of misfeasance, nonfeasance, and malfeasance. —Erik Sherman, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2021

However, Albertson ruled that misfeasance and nonfeasance are not listed as crimes under Virginia’s state code, according to attorneys for the defendants. —Antonio Olivo, Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2019

His nonfeasance included not filing critical pleadings, not attending hearings, not forwarding files to successor counsel, not refunding unearned fees and not responding to client inquiries. —Bruce Vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 13 July 2018

Word History

Etymology

non- + obsolete English feasance doing, execution

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nonfeasance

• defeasance
• malfeasance
• misfeasance
• treasons

Legal Definition

nonfeasance

noun

non·​fea·​sance ˌnän-ˈfēz-ᵊns 

: the failure or omission to do something that should be done or especially something that one is under a duty or obligation to do compare malfeasance, misfeasance

Etymology

non- + obsolete English feasance doing, execution, from Anglo-French fesance, from Old French faisance act, from fais-, stem of faire to do, from Latin facere