misappropriation
Unauthorized taking of
Misappropriation is the wrongful taking or use of something entrusted to one's care—typically money or property.
An accountant who diverts company funds commits misappropriation.
The term also applies to intellectual property: misappropriation of trade secrets.
The word emphasizes breach of trust rather than simple theft.
Theft of entrusted assets
- defalcationMisappropriation of entrusted funds
- siphoningDrawing liquid through tube
- skimmingPassing lightly over
- diversionRedirection of attention
misapplication · pilferage · fiduciary · funds · embezzler · treasury
Unlawful taking of goods
- stealingUnlawful taking of property
- pilferingMinor, sneaky theft
- filchingStealing small items
- conversionAct of changing states
Corrupt payment for influence
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- graftIllicit political gain
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
patronage · kleptocracy · payola · malfeasance · self-dealing · bid-rigging · whistleblower · transparency
Intentional misleading of others
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- falsificationDeliberate alteration of truth
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
fabrication · misrepresentation · phishing · charlatanism · imposture · defraud · bilk
Human-made historical objects
- repatriationFormal return to homeland
- provenanceRecord of ownership
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- commodificationTransforming into sellable goods
peculation
Theft of entrusted assets
- defalcationMisappropriation of entrusted funds
- siphoningDrawing liquid through tube
- skimmingPassing lightly over
diversion · misapplication · pilferage · fiduciary · funds · embezzler · treasury
larceny
Unlawful taking of goods
conversion · thievery · property-crime · restitution · prosecution
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
nepotism · patronage · kleptocracy · payola · malfeasance · self-dealing · bid-rigging · whistleblower · transparency · accountability
deception
Intentional misleading of others
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- falsificationDeliberate alteration of truth
forgery · fabrication · misrepresentation · phishing · charlatanism · imposture · defraud · bilk
artifacts
Human-made historical objects
- repatriationFormal return to homeland
- provenanceRecord of ownership
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- theftstealing, larceny, steal, burglary, robbery
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- corporate crimescorporate fraud, securities fraud, insider trading, price fixing, embezzlement
- embezzlementpeculation, defalcation, misuse of funds, siphoning, corporate theft
- ethics violationsbribery, bribes, kickbacks, kickback, nepotism
misappropriationstewardship
Responsible care of entrusted things
fiduciary duty · custodianship · trusteeship · probity · integrity
misappropriationrestitution
Restoring what was lost
return · restoration · repayment · reimbursement · giving back