defalcate

D2E1F4A1L1C3A1T1E1
UK[ˈdɛfəɫkeɪt]

verb

To misappropriate funds; to embezzle.

Similar
embezzlepeculatemisappropriatemalversate
OriginMedieval Latin dēfalcātus ← Latin dē →
Scrabble 15
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Meanings

verbdefalcate (third-person singular simple present defalcates, present participle defalcating, simple past and past participle defalcated)

present singular third person defalcates · participle present defalcating · participle past defalcated · past defalcated

  1. intransitiveTo misappropriate funds; to embezzle.
  2. obsoletetransitiveTo cut off (a part of something).
  3. obsoletetransitiveTo deduct or take away (a part of income, money, rents, etc.).

    One would have thought the natural method in a plan of reformation vvould be, to take the preſent exiſting eſtimates as they ſtand; and then to ſhevv vvhat may be practicably and ſafely defalcated from them.

    1769, [Edmund Burke], Observations on a Late State of the Nation, London: […] J[ames] Dodsley, […], →OCLC, page 42

Synonyms & antonyms

verbappropriate (as property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use

Similar
embezzlepeculatemisappropriatemalversate
Broader
stealrip offrip
Also see
embezzlemisappropriatepeculate

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latindē“off”
  2. Medieval Latindēfalcātus
  3. Englishdefalcate

First attested in the 1530s, in the sense “to lop off”; borrowed from Medieval Latin dēfalcātus, perfect passive participle of dēfalcō (“to cut or lop off”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from Latin dē (“off”) + falx (“sickle, scythe, pruning hook”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix).

More words from Medieval Latin, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian злоупотребявам
  • злоупотребявам (zloupotrebjavam)to misappropriate funds — see also embezzle
Czech defraudovat, zpronevěřit
  • defraudovatto misappropriate funds — see also embezzle
  • zpronevěřitto misappropriate funds — see also embezzle
Finnish kavaltaa
  • kavaltaato misappropriate funds — see also embezzle
Russian расхища́ть, растра́чивать
  • расхища́ть (rasxiščátʹ)to misappropriate funds — see also embezzle
  • растра́чивать (rastráčivatʹ)to misappropriate funds — see also embezzle
Spanish desfalcar
  • desfalcarto misappropriate funds — see also embezzle
Cite this entry
APA

defalcate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defalcate

MLA

“defalcate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defalcate. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “defalcate,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defalcate.

Source: defalcate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.