wilful misconduct

Meanings

1. 1noununcountablelegallawformal

   Deliberate bad behavior by someone who knows it is wrong or does not care about the risk, especially in law and insurance.

   Grammar: Uncountable; do not use a plural or 'a'. It often follows words like 'gross' or 'serious'.

   Patterns

   • gross wilful misconduct
   • a claim for wilful misconduct
   • be dismissed for wilful misconduct

   The company argued that the employee's actions amounted to wilful misconduct, so it did not have to pay the full bonus.

   The insurance policy does not cover loss caused by wilful misconduct.

   She was accused of wilful misconduct after she ignored clear safety rules.

2. 2noununcountablelegallawbusiness

   In employment law, serious intentional wrongdoing that can justify immediate dismissal without notice.

   Grammar: Uncountable and often used after 'for' or 'of' in legal writing.

   Patterns

   • dismissal for wilful misconduct
   • termination for wilful misconduct

   The tribunal found that the manager's behavior was not wilful misconduct, so the dismissal was unfair.

   An employer must prove wilful misconduct before firing someone without notice.

Common combinations

gross wilful misconduct

The court described the director's behavior as gross wilful misconduct.

a finding of wilful misconduct

The report made a finding of wilful misconduct against two officers.

alleged wilful misconduct

The lawsuit claims alleged wilful misconduct by the security team.

dismissal for wilful misconduct

Dismissal for wilful misconduct is allowed only in serious cases.

exclude liability for wilful misconduct

You cannot exclude liability for wilful misconduct in this contract.

Synonyms and how they differ

gross negligence

This means a very serious lack of care, but it does not require proof that the person intended the harm, so it is weaker than wilful misconduct.

intentional wrongdoing

A general phrase for deliberate bad acts; wilful misconduct is the legal term used in contracts and employment rules.

misconduct

This is the broader term for any bad behavior at work; wilful misconduct specifies that the behavior was deliberate.

Opposites

Word family

willful adjective

American spelling of wilful; means deliberate or done on purpose.

wilfully adverb

In a deliberate way; often used in legal contexts.

misconduct noun

Bad or unacceptable behavior, especially by a professional person.

Commonly confused: wilful misconduct or negligence? wilful misconduct or willful?

Practice

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