How Do You Spell EMBEZZLEMENT?

Pronunciation: [ɛmbˈɛzə͡lmənt] (IPA)

Embezzlement is spelled with three consonants at the beginning, represented by the əm-b-e-z-l m-ə-n-t. The first syllable contains a schwa sound, which is a short and unstressed vowel sound. The "zz" in the middle of the word is pronounced like a double "z," making a voiced buzzing sound. The final syllable ends with a consonant "t" sound. Embezzlement is a serious crime that involves stealing money or property entrusted to one’s care, typically by an employer or client.

EMBEZZLEMENT Meaning and Definition

1. Embezzlement is a legal and financial term that refers to the act of dishonestly appropriating or misappropriating funds or assets entrusted to one's care or control for personal gain. It involves the deliberate and unauthorized act of converting another person's money or property for one's own use.

   In embezzlement, the perpetrator is typically an individual who has been entrusted with the management or control over the assets, such as an employee, accountant, or financial officer. They intentionally divert or manipulate these assets, intending to use them for their own personal benefit or to cover up other financial wrongdoings. Embezzlement is considered a white-collar crime, often perpetrated in corporate settings.

   This criminal act can take various forms, including falsifying financial records, forging documents, altering checks, or redirecting funds into personal bank accounts. Perpetrators of embezzlement may employ sophisticated means to conceal their actions, such as creating fake identities or shell companies to receive the embezzled funds.

   Embezzlement is a serious offense that carries significant legal consequences, including fines and potentially lengthy imprisonment. It incurs severe penalties due to the breach of trust and potential financial harm caused to the victims. Proper accounting systems, internal controls, and regular audits are crucial preventive measures in organizations to minimize the risk of embezzlement.

2. The fraudulent appropriation to one's own use of what is intrusted to one's care and management, especially money.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for EMBEZZLEMENT *

• embezzelment 68%
• embezzlment 8%
• embezlement 8%
• embazzlement 8%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for EMBEZZLEMENT

• embezelment
• embezzellment
• embezellment
• embesslement
• embezzlments
• embazzlements
• imbezzlement
• Embetlement

Etymology of EMBEZZLEMENT

The word "embezzlement" originates from the Old French term "embeseiller", which literally meant "to put into one's own possession" or "to cause to come into one's possession". It is derived from the combination of the prefix "en-" meaning "in" or "into", and the word "béis", which meant "purse" or "bag". Over time, "embeseiller" evolved into "embezeler" in Middle English and "embezzler" in modern English during the 15th and 16th centuries. The term specifically refers to the act of fraudulently misappropriating money or property entrusted to someone's care.

Similar spelling words for EMBEZZLEMENT

• embezzler,
• embezzled.

Plural form of EMBEZZLEMENT is EMBEZZLEMENTS