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

1. someone who violates a trust by taking (money) for his own use