malefactor

noun

mal·​e·​fac·​tor ˈma-lə-ˌfak-tər 

1

: one who commits an offense against the law

especially : felon

He favors harsh punishment for chronic malefactors.

2

: one who does ill toward another

a sinister malefactor abusing his power

—Iron Age

Synonyms

• evildoer
• immoralist
• sinner
• wrongdoer

Examples of malefactor in a Sentence

she regards anyone who would cause the breakup of a family as a malefactor of the worst sort

the victim was able to give a clear description of the malefactor to the police

Recent Examples on the Web

If not properly secured, OTA updates may be intercepted and altered by malefactors, risking the reliability of the entire system. —Klaudia Zaika, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

The season’s first two episodes created the impression that Masa’s former workplace would be a significant entity in the series, but it was quickly displaced by the yakuza, a more familiar, less interesting malefactor. —Chris Klimek, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2024

In her introductory speech, Amanpour foreshadows what’s to come, warning that malefactors with enticing narratives can only manipulate us because of our eagerness to believe them. —Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2024

In 2011, ahead of his reelection campaign, Barack Obama traveled to Osawatomie, Kan., to attack the malefactors of great wealth. —Matthew Continetti, National Review, 19 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English malefactour, from Latin malefactor, from malefacere to do evil, from male + facere to do — more at do

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

malefactor

noun

male·​fac·​tor

ˈmal-ə-ˌfak-tər

1

: one who is guilty of a crime or offense

2

: one who does evil