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.

Synonyms of malfeasance

• misconduct
• wrongdoing

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

And people used bulletin boards and discussion groups on Chinese Web platforms like Weibo and QQ to report official malfeasance or corruption at the local or regional level. — Howard W. French, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026

The Constitution is clear that states have inherent authority to protect their citizens from corporate malfeasance and don’t need Congress’ permission to exercise that power. — Patrick Parenteau, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026

To spin total concoctions into something so riveting is — for better or worse — an admirable cinematic skill, one Hur uses to turn a tale of forensic malfeasance into mass entertainment of considerable quality. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026

The Kawhi Leonard deal, and the financial malfeasance that came with it, has crippled the franchise. — Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

mal- + obsolete feasance doing, execution

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for malfeasance

• defeasance
• misfeasance
• nonfeasance
• treasons

Kids 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