The doing of an act which a person ought not to do; evil conduct; an illegal deed.

Alternative forms: malefeasance.

Origin: F. Malfaisance, fr. Malfaisant injurious, doing ill; mal ill, evil + faisant doing, p. Pr. Of faire to do. See Malice, Feasible, and cf. Maleficence.

(01 Mar 1998)