What does malefaction mean?
Malefaction is a formal noun for an evil or wrongful deed. It suggests harmful, morally objectionable conduct rather than a minor mistake, and it can refer to acts by individuals, governments, organizations, or other powers. The word is uncommon in everyday conversation but appears in literary, political, legal, and historical writing, where its Latin-derived character gives it a grave and emphatic tone. Malefaction is especially useful when describing wrongdoing that is intended to cause harm or that is presented as corrupt and damaging. Although modern speakers usually choose terms such as wrongdoing, evil deed, or misdeed, malefaction can add a distinctly formal and often rhetorical emphasis to a description of harmful conduct.
nounAn evil or wrongful deed; an act that causes harm or wrongdoing. The word is formal and relatively uncommon in modern usage.
- An evil or wrongful deed; an act of wrongdoing.
"The investigation revealed no malefaction on the part of the officials."
"The witness described the burning of the building as an act of malefaction."
"The novel examines the political malefaction that followed the election."
The plural is used when referring to multiple evil or wrongful deeds.
"The report documented numerous malefactions committed during the conflict."
Malefaction preserves the Latin sense of doing evil: the root mal- means “bad” or “harmful,” while facere means “to do.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of malefaction
Malefaction comes through French from Latin malefactio, a noun meaning “evil deed” and related to malefacere, “to do evil.” Its elements combine the Latin prefix mal-, meaning “bad” or “harmful,” with facere, “to do.” The English word was used in the 17th century in legal and moral contexts and later became less common outside formal or literary prose.
Related word forms
How malefaction is actually used
This is a formal, literary, and relatively uncommon term. It is more often used in elevated prose, legal or political discussion, and literary criticism than in everyday speech.
Easily confused with malefaction
Malfaction is a rare noun meaning an evil or wrongful deed, whereas malfaction is an obsolete or very rare form associated with the doing of evil and is not normally used in contemporary English.