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
Congress has created more than two dozen multi-member agencies led by officials who can be removed by the president only for cause, which typically means instances of inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.
—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
This kind of work, exposing malfeasance and structural corruption, has historically led to a multitude of risks for journalists.
—
Gypsy Guillén Kaiser,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
In an ideal world, progressives would have howled about how wrong that was, but progressives were the beneficiaries of Twitter’s malfeasance, so the company’s censorship was seen as acceptable, even desirable.
—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
10 June 2026
Any malfeasance should be punished, and the system should always strive to improve.
—
Anita Chabria,
Mercury News,
6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for malfeasance
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Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
This kind of work, exposing malfeasance and structural corruption, has historically led to a multitude of risks for journalists.
—
Gypsy Guillén Kaiser,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
In an ideal world, progressives would have howled about how wrong that was, but progressives were the beneficiaries of Twitter’s malfeasance, so the company’s censorship was seen as acceptable, even desirable.
—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
10 June 2026
Any malfeasance should be punished, and the system should always strive to improve.
—
Anita Chabria,
Mercury News,
6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for malfeasance
Cite this Entry
“Malfeasance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malfeasance. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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
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