Misfeasance

C2 16+
Pronunciation Definitions Examples Grammatical Forms Origin and Evolution

Pronunciation: /mɪsˈfiːzəns/

Definitions of misfeasance

noun the performance of a lawful act in an illegal or improper manner

Example Sentences

A1 Misfeasance is when someone does something wrong without intending to cause harm.

A2 The employee was accused of misfeasance for mishandling company funds.

B1 The court found the company liable for misfeasance in their handling of the environmental cleanup.

B2 The politician was investigated for misfeasance in office, leading to his resignation.

C1 The CEO was charged with misfeasance for his involvement in the accounting scandal.

C2 The lawyer argued that the misfeasance of the defendant was a result of negligence rather than intentional wrongdoing.

Examples of misfeasance in a Sentence

formal The court found the company liable for misfeasance in handling the funds.

informal The boss got in trouble for misfeasance at work.

slang I heard he got fired for some shady misfeasance stuff.

figurative Her misfeasance in managing the project caused it to fail.

Grammatical Forms of misfeasance

past tense

misfeasanced

plural

misfeasances

comparative

more misfeasance

superlative

most misfeasance

present tense

misfeasances

future tense

will misfeasance

perfect tense

have misfeasanced

continuous tense

is misfeasancing

singular

misfeasance

positive degree

misfeasant

infinitive

to misfeasance

gerund

misfeasancing

participle

misfeasanced

Origin and Evolution of misfeasance

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Middle English, Old French
Story behind the word: The word 'misfeasance' originated from Middle English, derived from the Old French term 'mesfaisance' which means 'wrongdoing'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, 'misfeasance' has evolved to specifically refer to the wrongful performance of a lawful act, as opposed to 'malfeasance' which denotes the commission of an unlawful act. The word is commonly used in legal contexts to describe acts of negligence or misconduct by individuals in positions of authority or responsibility.