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Misfeasance: meaning, definitions and examples

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misfeasance

 

[ mɪsˈfiːzəns ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

legal term

Misfeasance refers to the improper performance of a lawful act, in a way that causes harm or injury to another person. It is a legal concept often discussed in relation to negligence and liability, where an individual or entity executes a legal duty incorrectly, resulting in damage.

Synonyms

misconduct, negligence, wrongdoing

Examples of usage

  • The contractor's misfeasance led to significant property damage.
  • In the lawsuit, the plaintiff claimed misfeasance by the public official.
  • The doctor was sued for misfeasance after mishandling a surgical procedure.

Translations

Translations of the word "misfeasance" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mala gestão

🇮🇳 दुराचार

🇩🇪 Falschverhalten

🇮🇩 penyalahgunaan wewenang

🇺🇦 зловживання

🇵🇱 niewłaściwe działanie

🇯🇵 不当行為

🇫🇷 mauvaise gestion

🇪🇸 mala conducta

🇹🇷 yanlış davranış

🇰🇷 위법 행위

🇸🇦 سوء التصرف

🇨🇿 nesprávné jednání

🇸🇰 nesprávne konanie

🇨🇳 不当行为

🇸🇮 neustrezno ravnanje

🇮🇸 misferli

🇰🇿 қате әрекет

🇬🇪 არასწორი ქმედება

🇦🇿 səhv davranış

🇲🇽 mala conducta

Word origin

The term 'misfeasance' originates from Middle English, derived from the Anglo-French word 'mesfeasance', which combines 'mes-' (badly or wrongly) with 'feasance' (from Latin 'facere', meaning 'to do'). In its early use, misfeasance indicated wrongful or improper action in the performance of an act that is otherwise lawful. Over time, this legal concept has evolved to encompass situations where a person in a position of responsibility fails to act appropriately within the bounds of their authority, leading to harm. Misfeasance is often discussed in legal contexts, particularly in cases involving tort law, professional liability, and the duties of public officials and employees.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,771, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.