Definition

1. Verb:
   • To misappropriate or embezzle funds or property that have been entrusted to one's care, using them fraudulently for one's own benefit.

Usage

• This verb is a formal and somewhat rare term, primarily used in legal, financial, or official contexts to describe a serious breach of trust involving theft or fraudulent use of entrusted assets.
• It is a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (e.g., to malversate funds).

Examples

• Verb:
  • The investigation revealed that the official had malversated public donations for his personal investments.
  • Trustees are legally bound not to malversate the assets of the estate.

Advanced Usage

• The act of malversating is malversation (noun).
  • He was charged with malversation of state funds.

Variants and Related Words

• Malversation (n): The act or offense of malversating; embezzlement or corrupt misconduct in a position of trust.
  • The audit uncovered a shocking case of malversation.

Synonyms

• Embezzle: To steal (money or property) placed in one's trust or belonging to one's employer.
• Misappropriate: To dishonestly or unfairly take (something, especially money) for one's own use.
• Defalcate: To misuse funds; to embezzle (formal/legal).
• Peculate: To embezzle or steal (money, especially public funds).

Antonyms

• Safeguard: To protect from harm or damage.
• Administer faithfully: To manage entrusted resources with honesty and care.

Verb

1. appropriate (as property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use
   • The accountant embezzled thousands of dollars while working for the wealthy family