malfeasance
/ˌmælˈfiːzənts/
Group 20Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (noun)
- Wrongdoing, especially by a public official GRE
Example in Context
The independent counsel was appointed to investigate allegations of malfeasance at the highest levels of the government.
Synonyms
wrongdoingmisconductcorruption
Etymology
From Latin, meaning 'bad doing', it refers to wrongful acts by officials.
- mal- (Latin) — bad
- facere (Latin) — to do
Memory Aid
🐜Sounds like “mal-fees ants”
A swarm of MALICIOUS ANTS charging fees for a shady service — total MALFEASANCE!
Visual Association
🚨A politician being chased by angry citizens for committing a serious wrongdoing.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “malfeasance” mean on the GRE?
malfeasance (noun) means “Wrongdoing, especially by a public official”. The independent counsel was appointed to investigate allegations of malfeasance at the highest levels of the government.
How to remember “malfeasance” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “malfeasance” sounds like “mal-fees ants”. A swarm of MALICIOUS ANTS charging fees for a shady service — total MALFEASANCE!
What are synonyms for “malfeasance”?
Common synonyms: wrongdoing, misconduct, corruption.