malpractice
noun
mal·prac·tice
ˌmal-ˈprak-təs 
1
: a dereliction of professional duty or a failure to exercise an ordinary degree of professional skill or learning by one (such as a physician) rendering professional services which results in injury, loss, or damage
2
: an injurious, negligent, or improper practice : malfeasance
Examples of malpractice in a Sentence
a surgeon accused of malpractice
Doctors need to have malpractice insurance to protect themselves against lawsuits.
Recent Examples on the Web
The lawsuits included civil allegations of medical assault and battery and medical malpractice.
—
Dave Collins, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2024
Lopez had been named in four disciplinary cases and nine malpractice actions, including lawsuits over the deaths of two infants, an injury to another, and an 18-year-old mother who died in the 1990s.
—Holly Baltz, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2024
The suit charges the doctors involved with malpractice and lack of informed consent.
—Jackson Walker, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2024
The 35-page suit, filed on April 23, 2024, names Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood facility in Albany, and several mental health professionals as defendants, accusing them of malpractice and negligence in their treatment of Cristina Hineman, now 20.
—Samantha Riedel, Them, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for malpractice 
Dave Collins, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2024
Lopez had been named in four disciplinary cases and nine malpractice actions, including lawsuits over the deaths of two infants, an injury to another, and an 18-year-old mother who died in the 1990s.
—Holly Baltz, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2024
The suit charges the doctors involved with malpractice and lack of informed consent.
—Jackson Walker, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2024
The 35-page suit, filed on April 23, 2024, names Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood facility in Albany, and several mental health professionals as defendants, accusing them of malpractice and negligence in their treatment of Cristina Hineman, now 20.
—Samantha Riedel, Them, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for malpractice
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'malpractice.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near malpractice
Cite this Entry
“Malpractice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malpractice. Accessed 17 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
malpractice
noun
mal·prac·tice
(ˈ)mal-ˈprak-təs
: violation of professional standards especially by carelessness or improper conduct
Medical Definition
malpractice
1 of 2 noun
mal·prac·tice
(ˈ)mal-ˈprak-təs
: a dereliction of professional duty or a failure to exercise an accepted degree of professional skill or learning by a physician rendering professional services which results in injury, loss, or damage
malpractice
2 of 2 intransitive verb
malpracticed; malpracticing
: to engage in or commit malpractice
Legal Definition
malpractice
noun
mal·prac·tice
ˌmal-ˈprak-təs
: negligence, misconduct, lack of ordinary skill, or a breach of duty in the performance of a professional service (as in medicine) resulting in injury or loss
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