defalcation

[ dee-fal-key-shuhn, -fawl- ]
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nounLaw.
  1. misappropriation of money or funds held by an official, trustee, or other fiduciary.

  2. the sum misappropriated.

Origin of defalcation

1
1425–75; late Middle English: deduction from wages (<Middle French ) <Medieval Latin dēfalcātiōn- (stem of dēfalcātiō) a taking away, equivalent to dēfalcāt(us) (see defalcate) + -iōn--ion

Other words from defalcation

  • non·de·fal·ca·tion, noun

Words Nearby defalcation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use defalcation in a sentence