malfeasance
/malˈfiːz(ə)ns
/noun [mass noun] Law
Wrongdoing, especially (US) by a public official.This would occur whenever the public is made aware of official malfeasance or incompetence....
- Unions and victims' groups have already accused the company of fraud, deceit and corporate malfeasance.
- Even if they were just friends, that made it newsworthy, because it was about public malfeasance.
Derivatives
malfeasant
/ noun & adjective ...- They are a malfeasant U.S. corporation that has potentially caused us to lose $500 million.
- How much gumption does it take to pillory the malfeasant editors, reporters, and publisher who turned to compost ages ago?
- It's still possible that this is just a cataclysmic bankruptcy for which a few malfeasant executives will pay a stiff price.
Origin
Late 17th century: from Anglo-Norman French malfaisance, from mal- 'evil' + Old French faisance 'activity'. Compare with misfeasance.