malpractice

IPA/ˌmælˈpræktɪs/
KK[mælprˈæktəs]IPA/ˌmælˈpræktɪs/

malpractice — noun

1. the failure of a professional person, such as a doctor or a lawyer, to do their

1.nounB2
Definition

the failure of a professional person, such as a doctor or a lawyer, to do their job according to the accepted standards of their profession, usually causing harm or loss to the person they were helping

Example

Dr. Yael was sued for malpractice after leaving a surgical tool inside a patient.

passive: was sued for malpractice

Walid lost his law license after being found guilty of legal malpractice.

collocation: legal malpractice / guilty of malpractice

Common collocations
  • malpractice lawsuit
  • malpractice claim
  • malpractice insurance
  • malpractice case
  • medical malpractice
  • legal malpractice
  • malpractice settlement
Synonyms
  • negligence

    broader term — negligence can happen in everyday life (e.g. driving), while malpractice is specifically professional

  • professional misconduct

    more formal, often used in disciplinary hearings rather than lawsuits

  • dereliction of duty

    stronger, more dramatic tone; implies a deliberate or very serious failure

Antonyms
  • due diligence

    the careful, responsible behaviour expected of a professional

Grammar Patterns

accused of malpractice

malpractice + noun (malpractice lawsuit, malpractice claim)

Usage Note

Most commonly refers to medical doctors, but the term applies to any licensed professional including lawyers, accountants, and architects. Often appears in legal phrases such as 'malpractice lawsuit' or 'malpractice insurance.'

Common Mistakes

The doctor made a small malpractice.
The doctor was accused of malpractice.
Malpractice describes the type of failure, not a countable error. It is usually uncountable.
Every mistake at work is malpractice.
Not every professional mistake counts as malpractice
the error must break accepted standards and cause harm.' — Malpractice requires a serious breach of duty, not just an ordinary mistake.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words describe a failure to meet expected standards, but they differ in scope and tone. 'Negligence' is the broadest — it applies to anyone who fails to take reasonable care, from a driver who causes an accident to a doctor who misdiagnoses. 'Malpractice' is narrower: it always involves a licensed professional acting within their job. 'Professional misconduct' focuses on the violation of ethical rules and is often used in disciplinary hearings, while 'dereliction of duty' carries a stronger sense of deliberate or very serious neglect. For example, a lawyer who misses a court deadline may be guilty of malpractice, but a lawyer who steals client funds faces a charge of professional misconduct.

negligence ↗professional misconductdereliction of duty ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • malpractice suit
  • malpractice attorney
  • malpractice verdict
  • malpractice reform

Prepositions

  • for (sued for malpractice)
  • of (act of malpractice)

Etymology

LatinEnglish

From Latin 'male' meaning 'badly' or 'wrongly', combined with English 'practice' (from Latin 'practicare' — to perform, to do). The word first appeared in English in the 1600s as a general term for any bad or wrong practice. By the 1800s it had narrowed to the specific legal/medical meaning of a professional's failure to meet proper standards.