Peculation
/pɛkjʊˈleɪʃən/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The wrongful appropriation or embezzlement of shared or public property, usually by a person entrusted with the guardianship of that property. countable, historical, uncountable
"[The Chief Magistrate] might pervert his administration into a scheme of peculation or oppression."
- 2 the fraudulent appropriation of funds or property entrusted to your care but actually owned by someone else wordnet
Example
More examples"[The Chief Magistrate] might pervert his administration into a scheme of peculation or oppression."
Etymology
From Latin pecūlātiō (“embezzlement”) from pecūlor (“to defraud the public”), related to pecūlium (“property in cattle, private property”), from pecū (“cattle, money”).