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
Jail maintenance worker Sterling Williams, 33, was arrested and charged with being a principal to simple escape and malfeasance in office.
—
Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Investigative journalism that exposes corruption and malfeasance by powerful people and companies comes with a serious risk of legal repercussions, and requires resources—such as time and money—that tend to be in short supply for freelancers.
—Alex Reisner, The Atlantic, 25 June 2025
Then, passengers such as me read about the malfeasance taking place at the other levels of our transit services in the pages of this newspaper.
—Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025
The Republican in that race, former Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, ultimately won in a campaign that cited Paxton’s investigation into his opponent, Cecilia Castellanos, as evidence of her malfeasance.
—Saul Elbein, The Hill, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for malfeasance
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Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Investigative journalism that exposes corruption and malfeasance by powerful people and companies comes with a serious risk of legal repercussions, and requires resources—such as time and money—that tend to be in short supply for freelancers.
—Alex Reisner, The Atlantic, 25 June 2025
Then, passengers such as me read about the malfeasance taking place at the other levels of our transit services in the pages of this newspaper.
—Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025
The Republican in that race, former Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, ultimately won in a campaign that cited Paxton’s investigation into his opponent, Cecilia Castellanos, as evidence of her malfeasance.
—Saul Elbein, The Hill, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for malfeasance
Cite this Entry
“Malfeasance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malfeasance. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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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