Peculate: meaning, definitions and examples
💰
peculate
[ ˈpɛk.jʊ.leɪt ]
illegal appropriation
To peculate means to embezzle or misappropriate funds or resources that have been entrusted to one's care. This term is often associated with individuals in positions of authority, such as public officials or employees, who illegally take money or property for their personal use. The act of peculation undermines trust and can have severe consequences for both the perpetrators and their victims. It is considered a serious crime in most jurisdictions and may lead to legal action and penalties.
Synonyms
defraud, embezzle, misappropriate, pilfer, steal
Examples of usage
- The manager was accused of peculating company funds.
- He was found to have peculated public money during his tenure.
- The accountant's job was at risk after being suspected of peculation.
Translations
Translations of the word "peculate" in other languages:
🇵🇹 desviar
🇮🇳 धन का दुरुपयोग करना
🇩🇪 veruntreuen
🇮🇩 menyelewengkan
🇺🇦 розтрачати
🇵🇱 sprzeniewierzyć
🇯🇵 横領する
🇫🇷 détourner
🇪🇸 malversar
🇹🇷 zimmetine geçirmek
🇰🇷 횡령하다
🇸🇦 اختلاس
🇨🇿 zneužít
🇸🇰 zneužívať
🇨🇳 挪用
🇸🇮 zlorabiti
🇮🇸 misnota
🇰🇿 бұзу
🇬🇪 მოწყვეტა
🇦🇿 sui-istifadə etmək
🇲🇽 malversar
Etymology
The word 'peculate' comes from the Latin 'peculatus', which means 'embezzlement' or 'theft of public money'. The root 'peculium' refers to private property or money, and it originally denoted the personal wealth of an individual, especially in relation to livestock. Over time, the term evolved to encompass broader meanings related to misappropriation of funds or property. The use of 'peculate' in English dates back to the early 19th century, where it began to take on its modern connotation in legal and financial contexts. The deterioration of trust in financial practices has made the understanding of such terms crucial, as they represent significant ethical and legal transgressions.
Word Frequency Rank
With rank #42,932, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.