How Do You Spell MALFEASANT?

Pronunciation: [mˌalfˈiːzənt] (IPA)

The word "malfeasant" refers to a person who has committed wrongdoing, particularly in a job or official capacity. It is spelled "mal-fea-sant" /ˌmælˈfi zənt/ using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable "mal" means "bad" while "feasant" comes from the French word "faisant" meaning "doing". The stress falls on the second syllable (feasant), making the "z" sound in the third syllable (zənt) silent. This word is commonly used in legal and business contexts to describe someone who has acted dishonestly or unethically.

MALFEASANT Meaning and Definition

  1. Malfeasant is an adjective that describes a person, typically an officeholder or a public official, who engages in wrongful or illegal behavior while in their position of authority. The term "malfeasant" specifically denotes someone who deliberately and intentionally performs actions or acts in a manner that is dishonest, corrupt, or contrary to the best interests of the organization, community, or society they represent. Such individuals abuse their power, violate laws, ethical standards, or established codes of conduct, often for personal gain or to exploit their position for personal advantage.

    A malfeasant person deliberately chooses to act improperly or unlawfully, displaying a lack of integrity, dishonesty, and a disregard for the welfare of others. Their actions may involve embezzlement, bribery, fraud, or other forms of corruption. The term encapsulates the idea that the individual is not only negligent or incompetent, but actively uses their authority to perpetuate harm or wrongdoing.

    The concept of malfeasance finds application in various professional domains, including politics, law enforcement, corporate governance, and public administration. Detecting and holding malfeasants accountable is crucial to ensure transparency, trust, and the rule of law in organizations and society at large.

Common Misspellings for MALFEASANT

  • nalfeasant
  • kalfeasant
  • jalfeasant
  • mzlfeasant
  • mslfeasant
  • mwlfeasant
  • mqlfeasant
  • makfeasant
  • mapfeasant
  • maofeasant
  • maldeasant
  • malceasant
  • malveasant
  • malgeasant
  • malteasant
  • malreasant
  • malfwasant
  • malfsasant
  • malfdasant

Etymology of MALFEASANT

The word "malfeasant" originates from the Latin term "maleficus", which can be broken down into "male" meaning "evil" or "wrong" and "ficus" meaning "to make". In this context, "maleficus" refers to someone who does wrong or evil deeds. Over time, the term was further developed in English, giving rise to the noun "malfeasance" and the adjective "malfeasant", both of which describe wrongdoing or improper conduct, typically by a public official or someone in a position of trust.

Similar spelling word for MALFEASANT

Plural form of MALFEASANT is MALFEASANTS

Infographic

Add the infographic to your website: