mal-

¹

1. a combining form meaning “bad,” “wrongful,” “ill,” occurring originally in loanwords from French ( malapert ); on this model, used in the formation of other words ( malfunction; malcontent ).

Mal.

²

abbreviation for

1. Bible. Malachi.
2. Malayan.

MAL

¹

abbreviation for

1. Malaysia (international car registration)

Mal.

²

abbreviation for

1. Bible Malachi
2. Malay(an)

mal-

³

combining_form

1. bad or badly; wrong or wrongly; imperfect or defective

   malfunction

   maladjusted

Word History and Origins

Origin of mal-¹

Middle English < Old French, representing mal adv. (< Latin male badly, ill) and adj. (< Latin malus bad)

Word History and Origins

Origin of mal-¹

Old French, from Latin malus bad, male badly

Example Sentences

“Coaching has that image of obsessed men driven to a point where they’ll destroy their lives,” he told The Times’ Mal Florence in 1981.

From Los Angeles Times

Musicals — good ones, imaginative ones, like “Emilia Pérez” — have a way of rocketing underappreciated talents into the stratosphere and, in a sequence like the hard-edged, dazzlingly choreographed “El Mal” number, in which she slices a scorn-filled path across a gala benefit of rich hypocrites, it’s easy to believe Saldaña could be the most versatile screen actor around.

From Los Angeles Times

Previously, the growth of Origin to an all-conquering giant had an eclipsing effect on the international game, but the enthusiasm of Australia head coach Mal Meninga and the appetite of the players themselves has led to a more focused push for Tests.

From BBC

In “El Mal,” a tour-de-force musical number staged at a glitzy fundraising gala, Rita sings and spits bars feverishly about the moral compromises she’s had to make to bring Emilia’s well-meaning foundation come to life.

From Los Angeles Times

On Saturday, Green Party leader Mal O'Hara said he was "hugely disappointed by the executive parties" over the ban.

From BBC