malfeasance

noun Law.

1. the performance by a public official of an act that is legally unjustified, harmful, or contrary to law; wrongdoing (used especially of an act in violation of a public trust).Compare misfeasance(def 2), nonfeasance.

noun

1. law the doing of a wrongful or illegal act, esp by a public officialCompare misfeasance, nonfeasance

n.1690s, from French malfaisance “wrongdoing,” from malfaisant, from mal- “badly” (see mal-) + faisant, present participle of faire “to do,” from Latin facere “to do” (see factitious). Malfeasor “wrong-doer” is attested from early 14c. Related: Malfeasant.