misfeaser

A public official is accused of being a misfeaser for misusing funds.

Definition

1. Noun (Legal term):
   • A person who commits a wrongful act or misconduct, especially in a professional or official capacity.
   • Specifically, someone who abuses their authority or performs an action that is legally improper or negligent.

Usage Examples

• (A person who abused their official position.)
• (Someone who acts wrongly or illegally.)

Advanced Usage

• "Misfeaser in office": a person holding a public or corporate position who engages in misconduct.

  • The investigation revealed the mayor to be a misfeaser in office, having accepted bribes. (An official who misused their power.)

• "Misfeaser at law": a legal term for someone who performs an act that is legally improper or unauthorized.

  • The trustee was deemed a misfeaser at law for violating his fiduciary duties. (A person who acted beyond their legal authority.)

Variants and Related Words

• Misfeasance (n): the wrongful or improper performance of a lawful act, especially by a public official.

  • The company sued for misfeasance after the contractor failed to follow safety regulations. (Improper execution of a legal duty.)

• Misfeasant (adj): relating to or involving misfeasance.

  • The misfeasant behavior of the accountant led to a financial audit. (Wrongful or improper conduct.)

Synonyms

• Wrongdoer: a person who acts immorally or illegally.
• Malefactor: a person who commits a crime or harmful act.
• Transgressor: someone who violates a law or rule.

Related Idioms

• To commit a misfeasance: to perform a legal act in an illegal or improper manner.

  • The engineer committed a misfeasance by using substandard materials. (Acted wrongly while doing a lawful job.)

• Misfeaser's liability: the legal responsibility of a person who has acted improperly.

  • The court established the misfeaser's liability for the accident. (The wrongdoer's duty to compensate for harm.)