malfeasance
C2Formal, Legal, Academic
Definition
Meaning
Wrongdoing, especially by a public official or professional.
The performance of a lawful action in an illegal or improper manner; professional misconduct or ethical violation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly implies a breach of trust, abuse of authority, or illegal conduct. Often used in legal and political contexts. Not typically applied to minor or accidental errors.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical or grammatical differences. The term is used in both legal and political contexts identically.
Connotations
Equally serious and formal in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to the litigious nature of US politics and corporate law, but it is a standard term in UK legal and journalistic contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
accuse [someone] of malfeasanceinvestigate malfeasance in [noun phrase]be guilty of malfeasanceallegations/charges of malfeasance against [someone]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms; the word itself is formal and literal.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to corporate fraud, embezzlement, or serious ethical breaches by executives.
Academic
Used in political science, law, and ethics papers to describe systemic official corruption.
Everyday
Rarely used in casual conversation; appears in news reports about political or corporate scandals.
Technical
A precise legal term for an act that is illegal and cannot be lawfully done, distinct from 'misfeasance' (lawful act done wrongly).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council was accused of malfeasing in the planning application process.
- To malfease is to violate the public trust.
American English
- The official was found to have malfeased by accepting bribes.
- The verb 'to malfease' is rare but grammatically possible.
adverb
British English
- The funds were handled malfeasantly, leading to the audit.
- He acted malfeasantly, contrary to his oath of office.
American English
- The contract was awarded malfeasantly, favouring a relative.
- This form is extremely rare and highly formal.
adjective
British English
- The malfeasant officer was dismissed from his post.
- A commission investigated the mayor's malfeasant activities.
American English
- The court dealt harshly with the malfeasant trustee.
- Malfeasant conduct is grounds for disbarment.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The newspaper wrote about corruption and malfeasance in the city government.
- The inquiry uncovered evidence of financial malfeasance at the highest levels of the corporation.
- The prosecutor built her case on allegations of systematic malfeasance, demonstrating a pattern of abuse of power for personal gain.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: MAL (bad/evil, as in 'malicious') + FEASANCE (related to 'feat' or 'doing'). So, 'malfeasance' is 'an evil doing'.
Conceptual Metaphor
CORRUPTION AS A DISEASE / A BREACH OF CONTRACT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'проступок' (misdemeanor, minor offence). 'Malfeasance' гораздо серьёзнее.
- Не является прямым эквивалентом 'злоупотребление властью' (abuse of power), хотя часто совпадает по контексту.
- Юридический термин, не бытовой.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for minor mistakes (e.g., 'The waiter's malfeasance brought the wrong wine').
- Confusing it with 'misfeasance' (performing a lawful act incorrectly) or 'nonfeasance' (failing to act).
- Misspelling as 'malefeasance' or 'malfeance'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'malfeasance' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Malfeasance is doing something that is plainly illegal or wrong. Misfeasance is performing a lawful action in an improper or negligent way.
Yes, but it remains formal. It is used in journalism, political commentary, and business ethics to describe serious, blameworthy misconduct.
It can be the basis for criminal charges (like fraud or corruption) or civil actions, and is also a ground for removal from office or professional disqualification.
The verb 'to malfease' exists but is very rare. People typically use phrases like 'commit malfeasance' or 'be guilty of malfeasance'.
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