malefit

M3A1L1E1F4I1T1

noun

A detriment or disadvantage

Similar
encumbrancehindrancenuisanceobstacledrawback
Opposite
benefitadvantageaidassistanceboon
OriginLatin malefit →
Scrabble 12
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounmalefit (plural malefits)

plural malefits

  1. A detriment or disadvantage

    However, if there are elements of similarity or dissimilarity, such as benefits and malefits to mankind, it can be useful to make such a comparison even if it cannot be made quantitatively.

    2013, Lawrence Kamm, Radical Ideas

    Synonyms: encumbrance, hindrance, nuisance, obstacle, drawback · Antonyms: benefit, advantage, aid, assistance, boon, foredeal, help

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA detriment or disadvantage

Similar
encumbrancehindrancenuisanceobstacledrawback
Opposite
benefitadvantageaidassistanceboonforedealhelp
Also see
disadvantagedrawback

Origin

  1. Latinmalefit
  2. Englishmalefit

Attested from 1700s. Learned borrowing from Latin malefit, modeled on benefit. Equivalent to French malfaire.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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