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Defalcation: meaning, definitions and examples

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defalcation

 

[ ˌdɛfəlˈkeɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

financial crime

Defalcation refers to the act of embezzling or misappropriating funds, typically by a person in a position of trust or responsibility. It signifies a breach of that trust as the individual diverts funds for personal use, violating fiduciary duties. Defalcation can occur within various sectors, including businesses, non-profits, and government organizations.

Synonyms

abuse of trust, embezzlement, fraud, misappropriation, theft

Examples of usage

  • The accountant was arrested for defalcation after it was discovered he had embezzled money from the company's accounts.
  • Several employees were involved in a defalcation scheme that led to significant financial losses for the organization.
  • The auditor flagged potential defalcation during the financial review, prompting a more detailed investigation.
  • Defalcation can have severe legal consequences, including criminal charges and civil penalties.

Translations

Translations of the word "defalcation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desfalque

🇮🇳 धन की हेराफेरी

🇩🇪 Unterschlagung

🇮🇩 penggelapan

🇺🇦 зловживання

🇵🇱 defraudacja

🇯🇵 横領

🇫🇷 détournement

🇪🇸 malversación

🇹🇷 zimmet

🇰🇷 횡령

🇸🇦 اختلاس

🇨🇿 zpronevěra

🇸🇰 sprenevera

🇨🇳 挪用

🇸🇮 zloraba

🇮🇸 svik

🇰🇿 қорқыту

🇬🇪 გატაცება

🇦🇿 maliyyə cinayəti

🇲🇽 malversación

Etymology

The term 'defalcation' originates from the Latin word 'defalcatio', which combines 'de-' meaning 'from' or 'away from' and 'falcāre' which means 'to reap' or 'to cut'. Historically, it referred to the act of deducting or withholding a certain amount, particularly in the context of financial dealings. The word evolved to describe situations where individuals, often in fiduciary roles, fail to properly manage or misappropriate funds. The first recorded use of 'defalcation' in English dates back to the early 19th century, and it has since become a specialized term primarily used in legal and financial contexts, particularly in discussions about fraud and trust violations.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,847, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.