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malfeasance
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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
mal·fea·sance 
[mal-fee-zuhns] Pronunciation Key
[mal-fee-zuhns] Pronunciation Key –noun Law.
| the performance by a public official of an act that is legally unjustified, harmful, or contrary to law; wrongdoing (used esp. of an act in violation of a public trust). Compare misfeasance (def. 2), nonfeasance. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| mal·fea·sance
(māl-fē'zəns) Pronunciation Key
n. Misconduct or wrongdoing, especially by a public official. [Anglo-Norman malfaisance, from Old French malfaisant, malfeasant, present participle of malfaire, to do evil, from Latin malefacere; see malefactor.] mal·fea'sant adj. & n. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
malfeasance
malfeasance
1696, from Fr. malfaisance "wrongdoing," from mal- "badly" (see mal-) + faisant, prp. of faire "to do," from L. facere "to do" (see factitious). Malfeasor "wrong-doer" is attested from c.1330.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: mal·fea·sance
Pronunciation: "mal-'fEz-&ns
Function: noun
Etymology: mal- bad + obsolete English feasance doing, execution, from Old French faisance, from fais-, stem of faire to make, do, from Latin facere
: 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
Main Entry: mal·fea·sance
Pronunciation: "mal-'fEz-&ns
Function: noun
Etymology: mal- bad + obsolete English feasance doing, execution, from Old French faisance, from fais-, stem of faire to make, do, from Latin facere
: 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
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Malfeasance
Mal*fea"sance\, n. [F. malfaisance, fr. malfaisant injurious, doing ill; mal ill, evil + faisant doing, p. pr. of faire to do. See Malice, Feasible, and cf. Maleficence.] (Law) The doing of an act which a person ought not to do; evil conduct; an illegal deed. [Written also malefeasance.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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