malfeasance
Corrupt act committed
Malfeasance is wrongdoing or misconduct, especially by a public official.
The term is primarily legal, describing unlawful acts committed under the cover of official authority: The mayor was investigated for malfeasance in office.
It implies not just incompetence but deliberate abuse of position.
Distinguished from misfeasance (improper performance of a lawful act) and nonfeasance (failure to act when required).
Unethical or illegal action
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- mismanagementIncompetent handling of responsibilities
- misfeasanceImproper performance of lawful act
impropriety · violation · breach · unprofessionalism · irresponsibility · incompetence · recklessness · misuse
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- extortionObtaining through threats
nepotism · cronyism · racketeering · profiteering · skimming · payola · venality · sleaze
Formal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- felonySerious criminal offense
- convictionFirmly held belief
- crimePunishable illegal act
unlawful · misdemeanor · perjury · conspiracy · larceny · obstruction · plea-bargain · disbarment
Deliberate violation of trust
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
disloyalty · underhandedness · chicanery · guile · double-dealing · backstabbing · collusion · cover-up
Creating fraudulent imitations
- falsificationDeliberate alteration of truth
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
counterfeiting · phishing · grift · con · sham · misrepresentation · fabrication · imposture
wrongdoing
Unethical or illegal action
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- mismanagementIncompetent handling of responsibilities
misfeasance · impropriety · violation · breach · unprofessionalism · irresponsibility · incompetence · recklessness · misuse · infraction
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
extortion · nepotism · cronyism · racketeering · profiteering · skimming · payola · venality · sleaze · plunder
indictment
Formal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- felonySerious criminal offense
- convictionFirmly held belief
crime · unlawful · misdemeanor · perjury · conspiracy · larceny · obstruction · plea-bargain · disbarment · impeachment
treachery
Deliberate violation of trust
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
deception · disloyalty · underhandedness · chicanery · guile · double-dealing · backstabbing · collusion · cover-up · conspiracy
forgery
Creating fraudulent imitations
- falsificationDeliberate alteration of truth
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
embezzlement · counterfeiting · phishing · grift · con · sham · misrepresentation · fabrication · imposture · flimflam
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- scandalscandal, infamy, disgrace, coverup, cover-up
- wrongdoingscrime, crimes, sin, sins, wrongdoing
- government ethicsethics board, ethics committee, ethics rules, ethics violation, ethics violations
- military offensesdesertion, insubordination, mutiny, AWOL, absence without leave
malfeasanceintegrity
Moral soundness and consistency
probity · rectitude · honesty · uprightness · good governance
malfeasancegood governance
Accountable, transparent institutional management
probity · integrity · rectitude · due diligence · compliance