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Glite Dictionary
❌ Wrong use 💸 Improper handling
misapplication

misapplication

8.8
Using money or property given to you in a dishonest way for personal gain
  • noun
  • /ˌmɪsˌæplɪˈkeɪʃən/
  • Formal
translation icon : malversación
  • The investigation revealed a serious misapplication of resources intended for community development.
  • misapplication of entrusted property
  • misapplication of entrusted

Examples

  • As is true for all educational decisions under Part B, these concerns about the misapplication of the LRE requirements for blind and visually impaired students underscore the importance of making individual placement determinations based on each student's unique abilities and needs.

    Academic text (2001)

  • The accountant was charged with misapplication of the company's funds for personal use.

  • During the audit, they discovered a misapplication of the donations meant for charity.

Synonyms

embezzlement
vsmisapplication
27 7.0

Taking money or goods that someone gave you to look after and using them for yourself

is broader, covering improper use of entrusted items not only secret taking
misappropriation
vsmisapplication
  • Formal
5 8.6

Taking money or things you were trusted with and using them for yourself

is about improper use of entrusted funds or property rather than just taking
defalcation
vsmisapplication
  • Formal
9.9

To take money or property you are trusted to manage without permission

is wider, applying to improper use beyond formal professional duties
peculation
vsmisapplication
  • Formal
9.9

Stealing money or property given to you to look after, especially by a government worker

is similar but applies to any entrusted funds, not only public ones
breach of trust with fraudulent intent
vsmisapplication
  • UK
9.9

A crime of illegally taking money or things someone gave you to look after and keeping them for yourself

covers dishonest or improper use regardless of whether possession began lawfully

Antonyms

use
  • Formal
310 8.7

The right to have and enjoy something that belongs to someone else

How Dishonest

embezzlement
27 7.0
misapplication
  • Formal
8.8
misuse
45 3.4
use
  • Formal
310 8.7

Surface Forms

misapplication singular
misapplications plural

Morphology

misapplication = misapply (transparent) = mis + apply + ation

Standard nominalization of 'misapply' with '-ation'; the specialized sense (improper use of entrusted funds) is a domain-specific application but follows the same morphological derivation.

Etymology

Misapplication uses mis- 'wrong' and application 'to put to use', and in legal or financial talk it often means the wrong or 'dishonest' use of money or property given to you to look after. So a legal misapplication is when someone uses entrusted funds for their own gain.