malpractice

Everyday

1. (law) When a doctor, lawyer or other professional does their job very badly or carelessly, and someone is harmed because of it. tree →
2. (formal) Wrong or dishonest behaviour in a job, such as cheating in exams or misusing money. tree →

In the lessons

In news and adult life, «medical malpractice» means a doctor's serious mistake that harms a patient, and the patient may take them to court. In schools in the UK, «exam malpractice» means cheating in exams, like copying or having a phone in the exam room; it can cancel your results. Phrases: «medical malpractice», «exam malpractice», «sued for malpractice».

Examples

• Taking a phone into an exam counts as malpractice. tree →
• The hospital investigated a case of malpractice. tree →
• The doctor was sued for malpractice after the wrong operation. tree →
• Exam malpractice can mean losing all your marks for that subject. tree →
• The lawyer was accused of malpractice for losing the client's money. tree →
• Our teacher read out the rules about exam malpractice. tree →
• Most doctors are very careful, and malpractice is rare. tree →
• Copying from a friend's paper is malpractice. tree →

Note

Usually uncountable: «some malpractice», «a case of malpractice». «Mal-» means bad. It is a formal word. Not the same as an ordinary mistake: malpractice means a professional did not take proper care. Not a maths word.