malefactive

M3A1L1E1F4A1C3T1I1V4E1

adjective

Of or pertaining to the linguistic form or case or the semantic role of the person who is harmed or who loses out by an action.

Opposite
benefactive
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Meanings

adjectivemalefactive (not comparable)
  1. not comparablehuman sciencesOf or pertaining to the linguistic form or case or the semantic role of the person who is harmed or who loses out by an action.

    Antonyms: benefactive

nounmalefactive (plural malefactives)

plural malefactives

  1. human sciencesA term or sentence element that serves a malefactive role or that is inflected for the malefactive case.

    Antonyms: benefactive

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveOf or pertaining to the linguistic form or case or the semantic role of the person who is harmed or who loses out by an action.

Opposite
benefactive

nounA term or sentence element that serves a malefactive role or that is inflected for the malefactive case.

Opposite
benefactive

Origin

Parallel in formation with both malefactor and maleficent (which see). By surface analysis, Latin malefact(us) + -ive.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

malefactive. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/malefactive

MLA

“malefactive.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/malefactive. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “malefactive,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/malefactive.

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