A malefactora person who has done something illegal or wrong is a person who has committed a crime. The word is old-fashionedused less often now; sounds dated and is mostly found in formalused in serious, official, or careful situations, legal, or literary writing.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈmæləˌfæktər/
Easy pronunciation: MAL-uh-FAK-ter (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress on the first syllable, with secondary stress on the third syllable.
Noun meaning a criminal; a person who has committed or been convicted of a crime.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Malefactor Meaning
a criminal; someone who has done something illegal
Part of speech: noun
Definition: someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
Example: The judge sentenced the malefactor to five years in prison.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- criminal — A direct and common substitute for this sense.
- crook — Works in informal speech, but is less formal than malefactor.
- felon — Refers to a person convicted of a serious crime.
- outlaw — Can mean a criminal, though it often has a broader or more historical flavor.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Malefactor Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- criminal
- felon
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using malefactor in everyday conversation, where criminal or thief sounds more natural.
- Assuming it means any bad person; it specifically refers to someone involved in crime.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does malefactor mean?
Malefactor means a person who has committed a crime or has been convicted of one. It is a formal, old-fashioned word.
Is malefactor a common word?
No. It is rarely used in everyday English and sounds formal or literary.
What are some synonyms for malefactor?
Good synonyms include criminal and felon. Crook can work in informal contexts, and outlaw can fit in some uses.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
