defalcator
/'di:fælkeitə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A person who commits defalcation; specifically, someone who violates a trust by misappropriating money or funds entrusted to them for their own use.
Usage
The term "defalcator" is a formal and legal word used to label an individual guilty of embezzlement or misappropriation of funds. It is typically used in legal, financial, and official contexts.
Examples
- The auditor discovered that the treasurer was the defalcator who had stolen from the pension fund.
- The company sued the defalcator for the return of the embezzled assets.
- He was exposed as a defalcator who had been siphoning company money for years.
Advanced Usage
- The term often implies a breach of fiduciary duty, meaning the person had a formal responsibility to manage the money properly.
- It can be used in historical contexts to describe officials who misused public funds.
Variants and Related Words
- Defalcation (n): The act or instance of misappropriating funds; embezzlement.
- The defalcation was discovered during a routine financial review.
- Defalcate (v): To misappropriate funds; to embezzle. (This verb is now rare).
- The clerk was accused of attempting to defalcate a small sum.
Synonyms
- Embezzler: A more common synonym for someone who steals money placed in their trust.
- Misappropriator: A person who takes something, especially money, for an unauthorized use.
- Peculator: A formal term for someone who embezzles public funds.
Related Phrases
- Fiduciary breach: The violation of a legal duty of trust, often associated with the actions of a defalcator.
- Financial malfeasance: Wrongdoing, especially by a public official, which includes defalcation.
Noun
- someone who violates a trust by taking (money) for his own use