Meaning & use
misconduct
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Meanings
noununcountable
Behavior by a professional or trusted person that breaks rules or accepted standards.
Grammar: Uncountable: say 'serious misconduct', not 'a misconduct' or 'misconducts'.
Patterns
- misconduct by someone
- serious misconduct
- accusations of misconduct
The lawyer was suspended for professional misconduct.
The report found no evidence of misconduct by the officers.
She denied any misconduct during the investigation.
noununcountable
Bad or unacceptable behavior by someone in a position of responsibility.
Grammar: Same uncountable use; often with words like 'gross' or 'willful'.
Patterns
- gross misconduct
- willful misconduct
He was fired for gross misconduct after repeatedly ignoring safety rules.
The school treats cheating as serious misconduct.
Common combinations
- professional misconduct
- The doctor faced a hearing for professional misconduct.
- serious misconduct
- Serious misconduct can lead to dismissal.
- sexual misconduct
- The company introduced new rules on sexual misconduct.
- accusations of misconduct
- He denied accusations of misconduct.
- investigate misconduct
- The committee will investigate misconduct claims.
Synonyms and how they differ
- wrongdoing
- Broader and less formal; it can refer to any illegal or immoral act, not just professional rule-breaking.
- misbehavior
- Used more for children or general bad behavior, not for serious professional violations.
- malpractice
- Specifically for professional negligence or wrongdoing, especially by doctors or lawyers.
Opposites
Word family
- misconduct verb
- To behave badly or manage something badly.
Practice
The employee was dismissed for ______ after stealing from the till.
Choose one answer.
'Misconduct' is uncountable, so it is used without an article or plural form. The other options incorrectly treat it as countable.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “misconduct”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.