malpractice

[ mal-prak-tis ]

noun

1. Law. failure of a professional person, as a physician or lawyer, to render proper services through reprehensible ignorance or negligence or through criminal intent, especially when injury or loss follows.
2. any improper, negligent practice; misconduct or misuse.

malpractice

/ ˌmælprækˈtɪʃənə; mælˈpræktɪs /

noun

1. immoral, illegal, or unethical professional conduct or neglect of professional duty
2. any instance of improper professional conduct

malpractice

1. Mistakes or negligent conduct by a professional person, especially a physician, that results in damage to others, such as misdiagnosis of a serious illness. Damaged parties often seek compensation by bringing malpractice suits against the offending physician or other professional.

Derived Forms

• malpractitioner, noun

Other Words From

• mal·prac·ti·tion·er [mal-prak-, tish, -, uh, -ner], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of malpractice¹

First recorded in 1665–75; mal- + practice

Example Sentences

Serious malpractice leading to the loss of limbs, paralysis and the deaths of patients wasn’t enough for the California Medical Board to stop these bad doctors from continuing to practice medicine.

From Los Angeles Times

Election officials have been quick to reject some accusations of voting malpractice - including one from Donald Trump - as well as clarifying some legitimate problems which have been taken out of context.

From BBC

Last November, Fails reached out to medical malpractice lawyers to see about getting justice through the courts.

From Salon

Abortion bans put doctors in an impossible position, she said, forcing them to decide whether to risk malpractice or a felony charge.

From Salon

“Doctors may be even more reticent to discuss cases that involve a death because of concerns regarding malpractice litigation,” he said.

From Salon

Related Words

• carelessness
• dereliction
• misbehavior
• misdeed
• mismanagement
• negligence
• transgression
• violation