defalcation
Stealing entrusted money
Defalcation is the misappropriation of funds by someone entrusted with them—typically an employee, trustee, or public official.
The term appears primarily in legal and financial contexts: The audit revealed a defalcation of over two million dollars.
It covers embezzlement, misuse of client funds, and similar breaches of fiduciary duty.
Theft of entrusted assets
- misappropriationWrongful taking of entrusted assets
- siphoningDrawing liquid through tube
- skimmingPassing lightly over
- diversionRedirection of attention
pilferage · conversion · appropriation · larceny · purloining · filching · thievery · absconding
Intentional deception for gain
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- conArgument against
forgery · counterfeit · imposture · trickery · dupery · flimflam · bamboozle · hustle
Amount still owed
- shortageDeficient supply of necessities
- deficiencyLack of something needed
- discrepancyDifference between expected and actual
- insufficiencyShortfall in amount needed
gap · arrears · negative balance · insolvency · financial hole · underage · cash shortage
Breaking of rules
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
- defaultPreset standard option
- nonfulfillmentFailure to complete obligations
- neglectFailure to provide care
failure · omission · infringement · contravention · noncompliance · irregularity · misconduct · malpractice
Illicit political gain
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
- venalityOpenness to bribes
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
nepotism · patronage · extortion · payola · palm-greasing · influence peddling · self-dealing · conflict of interest
peculation
Theft of entrusted assets
- misappropriationWrongful taking of entrusted assets
- siphoningDrawing liquid through tube
- skimmingPassing lightly over
diversion · pilferage · conversion · appropriation · larceny · purloining · filching · thievery · absconding · fiddling
fraudulence
Intentional deception for gain
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
con · forgery · counterfeit · imposture · trickery · dupery · flimflam · bamboozle · hustle · grift
deficit
Amount still owed
- shortageDeficient supply of necessities
- deficiencyLack of something needed
- discrepancyDifference between expected and actual
insufficiency · gap · arrears · negative balance · insolvency · financial hole · underage · cash shortage
violation
Breaking of rules
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
- defaultPreset standard option
- nonfulfillmentFailure to complete obligations
neglect · failure · omission · infringement · contravention · noncompliance · irregularity · misconduct · malpractice · malfeasance
graft
Illicit political gain
cronyism · nepotism · patronage · extortion · payola · palm-greasing · influence peddling · self-dealing · conflict of interest · public corruption
defalcationprobity
Thorough moral honesty
trustworthiness · fiscal responsibility · accountability · transparency · honesty
defalcationsurplus
Amount exceeding requirement
adequacy · sufficiency · superfluousness · excess · enough
defalcationreimbursement
Payment for incurred expenses
restitution · repayment · restoration · compensation · remittance